Lawson's speed and mentality appreciated: 'But Pierre Gasly had that too'

The announcement that Liam Lawson will become Max Verstappen's teammate at Red Bull Racing was no longer a huge surprise. However, looking at the numbers, it is. The New Zealander only has 11 Grands Prix to his name in the premier class of motorsport. But Richard Verschoor, who raced against Lawson in Formula 2, believes the 22-year-old has the qualities to stand tall for the Austrian team.

According to the Dutchman, racing for MP Motorsport in Formula 2 in 2025, Lawson is cut from the right cloth: "On the track with Liam, it's always hard against hard. Truly a winner. In qualifying that season, I often stayed ahead of him, but after the first lap, I would look in my mirrors and he would already be there," Verschoor recalls to the AD.

'Lawson alongside Verstappen is toughest job in F1'

But Formula 2 is not Formula 1. Along with this, Lawson will soon have to compete against Max Verstappen, someone who crushes every teammate. "We all see that seat as the hardest job in the sport," says Verschoor. "But for Red Bull, it's just very important to have someone who can at least stay a little bit closer to Max again."

The Dutch driver also realises that more drivers have gritted their teeth against Verstappen; including guys who really can accelerate. "The raw speed, the winner's mentality. Anyway, Pierre Gasly had all that too. That doesn't guarantee success."

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy

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