Despite recently signing a new deal, Red Bull driver Sergio Perez remains at risk.
Anthony Davidson has described Liam Lawson as “phenomenal” and suggested the New Zealander was still the favourite to take Sergio Perez’s Red Bull seat.
Perez’s position remains uncertain due to a disappointing performance in the first half of the 2024 season. With Lawson observing from the sidelines, former Toyota driver Davidson is of the opinion that Lawson would be a suitable replacement.
Anthony Davidson bigs up Liam Lawson’s Red Bull chances
Lawson is once again serving on reserve duty this season, reminiscing about the time he was unexpectedly thrown into the spotlight last year when Daniel Ricciardo got injured at Zandvoort.
Lawson’s best chance to join Red Bull mid-season would be if the Australian driver is in top form, considering Perez is currently facing significant pressure.
According to reports, Red Bull is rumored to be postponing their decision until the summer break. However, Davidson firmly believes in Lawson’s abilities and believes that the team has a capable replacement.
“Undoubtedly, he left quite an impression,” Davidson expressed on Sky F1. “That’s why we’re still discussing him and even contemplating him as the potential replacement for Sergio Perez’s position, in case Perez departs or is forced out from the team.”
“He displayed great tenacity. When thrown into the deep end, he not only swam skillfully but also triumphed over Yuki Tsunoda, thoroughly defeating him. Furthermore, he outperformed Max Verstappen in Singapore qualifying, leaving him knocked out.”
“He consistently demonstrated phenomenal skills across multiple races, causing quite a stir. We are eagerly looking forward to witnessing his return to Formula 1 as a fully-fledged race driver.”
Peter Bayer, the boss of VCARB, expressed relief that the decision regarding Perez’s future does not rest on him. He stated, “I am grateful it’s not my call,” and emphasized that Helmut and Christian will have the final say.
“Personally speaking, it’s like everything in life, every huge challenge is a huge opportunity. In this sport, that’s just the way it is,” Bayer told Motorsport-Total.com.
More on the 2025 driver market
F1 driver contracts: What is the contract status of every driver on the 2024 grid?
F1 2025 driver line-up: Who is already confirmed for the 2025 grid?
Last year, Liam demonstrated his ability to effectively manage and thrive in high-pressure situations, even when faced with challenging circumstances.
I had a conversation with him because he had driven the Red Bull last week. According to him, the car was exceptionally enjoyable to drive as it was remarkably forgiving in comparison to our own car. It has a lower tendency to make mistakes.
Simultaneously, once you reach the front, it exhibits exceptional sharpness in its drive. Mastering this car is an absolute necessity.
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