Lawson urged to be patient at Red Bull

F1 fans love fallouts between drivers, and confrontations between the Red Bull pair could have a significant impact on viewing figures worldwide. Several F1 races were among the most streamed sports events in 2024, and animosity between Verstappen and Lawson could drive the numbers even higher. Verstappen heads into the new season chasing a fifth consecutive world title, but he may not have things as easy as in previous campaigns. McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri should be in contention, while several other drivers will fancy their chances of upsetting the odds.

Lawson’s promotion to the main Red Bull team adds a layer of intrigue to proceedings, particularly given that Verstappen has been the undisputed number one for many years.However, Lawson has insisted that he is not in F1 ‘to make friends’ and has demonstrated his willingness to ruffle feathers on the track. He had well documented fallouts with Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez last year, highlighting his fearless nature despite his lack of experience in the series. While Lawson may be thinking he can cause Verstappen problems this season, former F1 test driver Giedo van der Garde has urged him to take a more cautious approach.

Van der Garde told Motorsport.com: “Although he is on the eve of his first full season, Liam is no rookie anymore, with his 11 Grand Prix starts for AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls. In every class he has started in, he has been fast. And when he has been given a chance in Formula 1, he has been there straight away. He picks things up quickly and is very good at tyre management. He is also very steady. He does not do strange things and generally makes very few mistakes."

“This year he is next to the best in the world. Liam will have to learn as much as possible from Max. I am very curious to see how close he can get to him. Although he showed a few times last year at Racing Bulls that he was very ambitious, I do not expect that to cause any problems." Van der Garde believes Lawson will head into the season knowing that his job is to support Verstappen and score as many points as he can for the team.

His views may reflect an optimistic perspective, considering Red Bull is eager to establish a more balanced set-up following the challenges posed by Perez’s inconsistent performance last season. It was ultimately the lack of sufficient points from Perez that cost Red Bull the Constructors’ title, a gap McLaren capitalized on to claim the championship.

Whether Red Bull’s desire to reclaim the crown will influence their approach to Lawson’s role within the team remains to be seen. However, given that both drivers are fiercely ambitious, it would not be surprising to witness moments of rivalry as they push each other—and the team—to new heights this season.