Liam Lawson – F1 Champion in the making – what the future holds and with who? Sparks may well be flying in the Red Bull Racing camp on driver line-up for next season, but rest assured, Liam Lawson has strength of mind that his future looks bright no matter which way the dice is thrown.
Why? Well, let’s examine the facts from Lawson’s debut performances in F1 GP’s: Zandvoort, Monza, and Singapore, results produced relevant to Alpha Tauri driver’s in 2023 season, within the context of F1 transition to new engine regulations in 2026.
Straight up, Liam was thrown the opportunity and responsibility to race as replacement driver for Daniel Riccardio at F1 Dutch Grand Prix, having been confirmed as Red Bull reserve driver for past 2 seasons. Yes, sure, the dream was now a reality, turning the chance into advantageous results, meaning the Kiwi was more than ready to showcase his talent, skills, and sheer committment to gain a seat on the F1 grid.
From starting in P19, to completing the main race in P13 was no fluke, with Liam out-performing his team-mate Yuki Tsunoda who went from P17 to P15. Lawson handled the all-new-experience with his likeable composure, realizing that managing extreme weather conditions, which affected tyre selection, pit-lane switches, and passing was positively received by all those watching, including F1 driver’s post racing.
On to F1 Monza and F1 Singapore GP’s, and Liam placed the concept that results count top of priority list, turning start position in Italy of P12 to finish P11, and then producing superb performance in Singapore by nailing his first Q3 of P10. Most certainly, the give-as-much-as-I-can attitude proved rewarding, with Liam finishing P9, pitching the 21 year old’s delivery of results in the mix for gaining F1 seat with Alpha Tauri next season.
And here comes the rub. Sure, current Team driver’s of Riccardio has over a decade of racing F1 scoring 3rd overall in Championship in 2014 and 2016, AND Yuki, supported by Honda, who have supplied Red Bull Racing engines up to 2026, has received unfortunate set of incidents, this season, scoring 3 P10 finishes in Australia, Azerbaijan, and Belgium.
So, does Lawson’s performance out-class Riccardio or Yuki to complete 2024 Alpha Tauri driver line-up, or does Red Bull keep Lawson hanging, knowing shifts will occur in next couple of seasons, in response to change in engine regulations from 2026, along with Manufacture alignment with Teams?
These facts matter, and will no doubt affect long-term trajectory on who makes F1 grid, with which Team? Honda will end partnership with Red Bull and enter new supply chain of engines with Aston Martin for the new era of racing with carbon-free-fuel in 2026.
Red Bull Racing have cemented new partnership with Ford, establishing engine manufacture profile amidst competitors heading into the chapter of ’50 – 50 split between internal combustion engines and electric power’. And, new mover Audi into F1 completes 6 manufacture line-up of: Alpine, Audi, Ferrari, Honda, Mercedes, and Red Bull/Ford.
For certain, there are concerns, already on the affects on performance under the new regs – most notably, in simple terms, ‘how increased electrical power may challenge driver’s and strategists as they weigh when to recharge and attack’. The limitations that have been recognized by Manufacturers already testing engines on dynos, concern that ‘driver’s will need to downshift on the straights to recharge the battery, which would traditionally be a counter-intuitive reaction – albeit to increase battery power’.
Even with 2 seasons to go before new era of F1 Net Zero Carbon, Lawson can remain on the ready, and open minded that he has what it takes to deliver F1 Championship winning performances – who that is with and when, let’s wait and see.
Header photo: Liam Lawson racing F1 Singapore GP Image: Team.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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