Racing Prodigy Faces High Stakes in Formula 1 Debut
With a coveted spot on the RB racing team, 22-year-old Liam Lawson is acutely aware that his Formula 1 dreams could evaporate in a matter of months if he fails to deliver. The New Zealander, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo last week, will return to the track at the Texas sprint weekend on October 20, marking the start of a triple-header that includes Mexico and Brazil.
Lawson’s impressive performance as a replacement driver for Ricciardo last season caught the attention of RB’s top executives. Although he is heavily favored to retain his seat next season, only his Japanese teammate Yuki Tsunoda has been confirmed for 2025. Lawson remains humble, acknowledging that his position is far from secure.
“I’ve been given this opportunity for a reason, but it’s always performance-based,” Lawson emphasized in an interview. “Even with a multi-year contract, those can be broken. It’s not set in stone; I’m not guaranteed racing next year. That’s the target, and that’s why they’ve given me this opportunity – to prepare me for hopefully driving next year.”
Lawson’s ascension to Formula 1 has sent ripples of excitement through New Zealand, where he became the 10th Kiwi driver to start a grand prix. His family, who made immense sacrifices to support his racing ambitions, is breathing a collective sigh of relief. Lawson’s parents sold their family home to fund his racing career, while his sisters put their promising careers in Irish dancing on hold to support their brother.
When asked about sharing the news with his loved ones, Lawson smiled, “Everyone I called – my family, my mum and dad included – their first reaction was exactly the same. It wasn’t excitement or happiness; it was relief. I could hear it in their voice after how long it’s been, how much hard work and sacrifice has gone into this, especially for my family.”
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