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mekies cannot do more for lawson than be test driver

Red Bull keep Lawson in the background: 'That's all we can do'

8 June at 11:00
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  • Ludo van Denderen

Also in Canada, Liam Lawson is present in the paddock. Sometimes the Red Bull Racing and VCARB reserve driver looks somewhat lost, as if the New Zealander is present with no real purpose. Eager to see Lawson change that in '25. Then he hopes to finally get a permanent place with Red Bull Racing's sister team. Whether that will succeed is highly uncertain. For the time being, it looks like Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo will again be favoured by the Italian squad in '25.

Lawson is now 22, an age when he should be in regular action in races. While peers gain experience in all kinds of classes - including outside Formula 1 - tests and sessions in the simulator are the only times Lawson gets behind the wheel. Having driven five Grands Prix as Daniel Ricciardo's temporary replacement in '23, Lawson can no longer take part in a VT1 as a 'rookie'.

He therefore fills his time by giving interviews, joining VCARB briefings and, above all, waiting. A lot of waiting. "We recognise that it's not ideal for a racing driver not to be racing every weekend, but we have a good programme with Liam," stated Laurent Mekies, VCARB's team principal, speaking to Sky Sports. The Italian then lists: Lawson is there every weekend, is the reserve driver and does a lot of work in the simulator.

"We are going to try to give him as much running as we can in the car. We have a test plan next month and that's about the best we can do. In the meantime, he's completely embedded in the team, he knows our procedures, he knows all the engineers, so it's as good as it can get to the actual way of driving," Mekies said.

No seat in '25 and Lawson can leave

The Italian team principal left it open whether Lawson will get a permanent seat in '25. If Red Bull cannot offer him one, the New Zealander is free to go elsewhere. Helmut Marko, the Red Bull teams' external advisor, announced this last week.