Liam Lawson, the reserve driver for Red Bull and RB this year, has his sights set on securing a spot on the grid for the year 2025.
Red Bull and RB reserve Liam Lawson is going to have to be patient over his potential Formula 1 future, with RB team principal Peter Bayer acknowledging the team are “finding performance” with both Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo in the car.
The young New Zealander impressed upon his sub appearances for Ricciardo last season but has settled for a reserve role at both Red Bull teams this season in the hope of finding a full-time drive on the F1 2025 grid.
Liam Lawson may be caught in Red Bull’s ‘luxury situation’ for F1 2025
Additional reporting by Sam Cooper
Next year, there is a line-up of drivers eager to secure a spot on the grid, including Lawson, who is seeking a race seat, and other Red Bull juniors like Ayumu Iwasa, Isack Hadjar, and Pepe Marti, who are making their way through the junior categories in Super Formula and Formula 2, respectively.
While it had appeared that Lawson’s name would be among the main contenders for a seat next season, RB team boss Bayer explained that the team is in a “luxury situation” at the moment where they have both drivers performing and a “strong grassroot pyramid” beneath them.
He mentioned that a decision regarding the team’s F1 2025 line-up is not expected to be made before the summer break. Lawson, who participated in the Super Formula last year and is currently serving as a reserve for both Red Bull teams this season, was temporarily brought in to replace Ricciardo.
Where might Liam Lawson fit into the F1 2025 picture?
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When asked about Lawson’s future, Bayer informed the media, including PlanetF1.com in Monaco, that Liam is a highly valuable asset to the team.
“He’s with us every weekend, obviously. He’s doing a lot of work in the simulator, but currently we have two drivers in the cars.
We are currently evaluating the performance of both options, and we haven’t really discussed the 2025 situation. This may be because we are fortunate to have a strong grassroots pyramid supporting us, which puts us in a luxurious position.
Therefore, the main emphasis lies on the track and the upcoming races, specifically leading up to the summer break.
Similarly, Christian Horner, the team principal of Red Bull, expressed his intention to take his time in deciding the future of Lawson and other aspiring young drivers aiming to climb the ladder.
Horner added that since they are all Red Bull Racing drivers and there are still eight races remaining, there is plenty of time.
I’m glad to witness the impressive performance of the younger generation, and having healthy competition is also beneficial.
It is without a doubt that Liam is eager to return to a racing scenario. The drivers currently demonstrating exceptional skills in Formula 2, as well as Formula 3, indicate a remarkable pool of talented individuals.
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