Seats in Formula 1 are scarce and 80-year-old Helmut Marko decides who gets behind the wheel (Red Bull Racing and AlphaTauri) from 20 per cent of all available spots. Red Bull's own junior programme is home to more than enough drivers who all dream of a spot in motorsport's king class. Liam Lawson is one of them and the New Zealander impressed again in Japan this weekend by winning again.
Lawson finished third in the Formula 2 championship last season. The 21-year-old driver was sent to Japan by Marko to go the 'Pierre Gasly route': racing on the other side of the world in a completely different culture, in a competitive class and in cars that might be the closest thing to an F1 car.
This weekend marked the sixth race (out of eight in total). Lawson crossed the line first for the third time in 2023 and approached championship leader Ritomo Miyata to within one point. Miyata had to settle for third place, moving up to 86 points. Lawson collected 85 points and thus still has every chance of taking the title, something Gasly failed to do in 2017. The Frenchman, who currently races for Alpine, was half a point short of first place.
The following year, Gasly got the chance to step in at Toro Rosso. For such a similar scenario, Lawson will no doubt hope. But: spots are scarce, and from the Hungarian Grand Prix onwards, with Daniel Ricciardo replacing Nyck de Vries, a new driver will enter AlphaTauri, something Lawson himself says he understands.
A place in F1 or not?
Either way, if Lawson is not given the chance by Marko next year, the question is whether he will be patient for another year to realise his dream at Red Bull. Possibly Lawson's fate lies in the hands of Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo. Because if Ricciardo is promoted to Red Bull, Perez will not come to drive for AlphaTauri, he will leave. But if Perez improves over the next few races and 'just' serves out his contract, will training team AlphaTauri opt for a full season with veteran Ricciardo at the wheel?
The first (for Red Bull) important decision with the sacking of De Vries was made last week, but Marko immediately has something to think about in the second half of the season, namely Lawson's position.
