F1 News: Liam Lawson In-Line For AlphaTauri Seat - "Certainly"

Liam Lawson impressed in his debut F1 weekend, earning high praise from Red Bull's Helmut Marko. The young Kiwi's performance at Monza suggested a promising

Liam Lawson impressed in his debut F1 weekend, earning high praise from Red Bull's Helmut Marko. The young Kiwi's performance at Monza suggested a promising future in Formula 1 with AlphaTauri.

Monza recently witnessed the meteoric rise of Liam Lawson, finishing at an impressive P11. This remarkable performance by the 21-year-old driver during his inaugural full Formula 1 weekend has stirred discussions within the racing community. Notably, Red Bull's chief consultant, Helmut Marko, expressed delight at Lawson's significant strides in the sport.

Originally, AlphaTauri hadn't granted Lawson a spot in Formula 1 for the 2023 season. Instead, Red Bull favoured Nyck de Vries who took his seat alongside Yuki Tsunoda. When Daniel Ricciardo was brought on board as de Vries’ successor, Marko was hesitant to shuffle Lawson from his commitment to the SuperFormula Championship. A twist of fate came when Ricciardo sustained a wrist injury, prompting a reshuffle.

The Kiwi driver's commendable adaptability was not only evident in his last-minute stellar performance at Zandvoort but also during the recent Monza race. The ability to quickly grasp and manifest speed is a rare quality, but it's one he's shown throughout his racing career and was perfectly evident as he took expressed confidence, divebombing the likes of the Haas drivers to gain places last weekend.

In a recent conversation regarding Lawson's trajectory in Formula 1, Marko shared his optimism. Drawing a parallel, he said: 

“Liam has been with us for a while. He is a tough but very smart man in a fight, a bit like Bruce McLaren. This is certainly someone for the future.” 

Marko's sentiments, shared with ServusTV, were clear: Lawson's performance in Italy showcased his undeniable speed, a promising sign for the future. 

He added: 

“The speed was there [last weekend in Italy], and that is a good sign.

“However, he is now still driving in the Japanese championship, and there he is second in a very, very difficult battle. The cars are faster there than in Formula 2.

“However, because it is in Japan, it is not viewed that way here.

“Maybe he can win the title there. Will he get a [full-time] seat instead of [staying] a reserve driver? That could happen quickly.”

Despite some recent criticisms, the Red Bull Academy remains lauded for its commitment to nurturing young, successful talent. The institution sometimes faces scrutiny for its quick decisions. However, if Lawson's current trajectory is any indication, it would be no surprise if he secures a full-time position with AlphaTauri in the upcoming season.

With both Yuki Tsunoda delivering exceptional results in 2023 and Daniel Ricciardo fighting for a potential comeback, the Red Bull leadership, Marko and Christian Horner, might find themselves at crossroads.