Red Bull junior talent surprised: "At first I thought he was kidding"

Liam Lawson was surprised to say the least when he was told by Red Bull Racing that he would be racing in the DTM from 2021. The young New Zealander thought it was a joke.

Never thought about the DTM

"It was all kind of random," Lawson revealed to Velocity News. "I was in my last few days of quarantine in New Zealand having come back from the Formula 2 test in Bahrain, and I get a call from my manager Grant McDonald."

Lawson explained that doctor Helmut Marko would call his manager and that Lawson himself should be prepared for anything. Later that same day Lawson was called again by his manager who gave him the news that he would be driving for Red Bull in the DTM.

Lawson ready for the challenge

"At first I thought he was kidding, and that it was all a joke. But no, it was real, and now I am really excited about the opportunity. It is the Formula 1 of GT cars and the high level of drivers and manufacturers in the class makes it such an awesome championship", Lawson explained.

Lawson will complete a full season of eight rounds where he will not have to miss a Formula 2 race. "The biggest challenge will be going between the F2 car and the DTM car each weekend", Lawson concludes. He does think the DTM races can help him in the Formula 2 championship.