Lawson awaits a place in Formula One: Is this his salvation at Red Bull?
General
- Ludo van Denderen
Every Grand Prix, he stands in the pit box of Visa Cash App RB. Waiting for that one moment, which came to everyone's surprise in 2023. At Zandvoort, Liam Lawson was suddenly allowed to fill in after Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand in a crash during practice. What the insiders already knew, the outside world also saw in the following weeks: Lawson is a very talented driver, who definitely deserves a permanent place in Formula 1. But will he get one? It didn't look like it for '25 again, but a route into F1 still shines.
After Lawson's handsome races in 2023, there were expectations that Visa Cash App RB - then called AlphaTauri - would choose the New Zealander as a regular driver for the current season. Yet before his short span was over, there was the bad news for him: sister team Red Bull Racing stuck with Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo in '24, even though the latter had made little impression since his comeback.
Helmut Marko, the external adviser to both teams, however, gave Lawson hope. He seemed to promise in interviews that a spot at Red Bull Racing or VCARB would definitely be made available for the talent in 2025. But that was then, and by now it looks like at least Red Bull will be starting with the same line-up in '25: With Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Lawson hopes for VCARB
Arriving directly at Red Bull surely hadn't occurred to Lawson, his hopes were focused on VCARB. Yet in Monaco, Peter Bayer, the CEO of VCARB, revealed he was extremely pleased with his driver duo Tsunoda and Ricciardo. He seemed to hint that the Italian team would also keep this duo in '25, which has the direct implication that there is thus again no place for Lawson. Fair's fair: if that is indeed the scenario, Lawson will slowly start to wonder if an adventure in F1 will ever happen at all, or perhaps he should set his sights elsewhere?
Suddenly there is hope for Lawson after all. There are rumours in the paddock that Yuki Tsunoda may be leaving for Audi, at least Joe Saward reported this week. The Japanese driver is said to have come to the conclusion that there will never be a place for him at Red Bull Racing, no matter how well he does. Moreover, after next season, the partnership between Red Bull and Honda, the engine manufacturer of which Tsunoda is a protégée, will end. And if the partnership ends, funding for Tsunoda at VCARB is also likely to end.
Tsunoda interesting for Audi
At Imola, Tsunoda already said he was keeping his eyes open and considering any offer. So that could just come from Audi; the team that did contract Nico Hulkenberg but cannot find a first driver. Dream candidate Carlos Sainz has little interest, it is now clear. Nor would Esteban Ocon be eager to join Audi. So Audi could end up with Tsunoda, a 24-year-old driver with potential and interesting for sponsors.
Liam Lawson will no doubt welcome Tsunoda's departure. For now, that seems the only way the New Zealander in '25 will finally get his chance.