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Lawson gets extra challenge alongside Verstappen: 'Going to be very tough'
- Ludo van Denderen
Liam Lawson only has 11 Grands Prix to his name, but for the 2025 season, he will already face the biggest challenge possible: being Max Verstappen's teammate. Trying to keep up with the Dutchman will be one thing, but doing it on circuits the New Zealander has never raced before will be a tall order.
2025 will at last be Lawson's first full season in Formula 1, with his 11 race starts coming from two second-half seasons in 2023 and 2024. But speaking to media, including GPblog, the 23-year-old does not see himself as a rookie as he sets about reporting for his first full season in the pinnacle of motorsport.
"Starting the season it's going to feel quite new, just because of the tracks we're going through and because it's the start of a season, but no in Formula 1 I don't feel like a rookie," Lawson said.
Lawson happy with Red Bull preparation
Nevertheless, Lawson is still in the midst of a learning process during the winter break: "The first half of the season or the first part especially is going to be very, very tough. You're correct. Melbourne, China, Miami, Canada, all those tracks I haven't done before. And yeah, not starting the seasons obviously is unique. I've always just done the end of it or some races in it. So yeah, having a proper pre-season has been useful and hopefully will help to start."
Lawson then reiterated: "But I think no matter what, it's going to be very, very tough. I think no matter how much prep we do, obviously going out on a new track, there's always an element of how much time it takes to learn that and maximise it. So at the same time, it's getting used to a new car."
This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy
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