Lawson highlights core F1 driver issue

Liam Lawson has stated F1 cars are so different to any other type of single-seater challenger, it is impossible to know if a driver is able to cope until they jump behind the wheel.

Several rookie drivers will take part in F1 full-time next year with Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto all signed up to race seats.

The quartet have had successful junior careers en route to F1 - but Lawson asserted their early fortunes mean nothing as they prepare for their next chapters

“The car in F1 is so different,” Lawson told media including RacingNews365. “You can be quick in an F2 car, you can be quick in a lot of other cars.

“It just doesn't translate to F1 and vice versa as well. You can struggle in F2 but have the driving style or be the type of driver that can adapt to an F1 car.

“Nobody knows how a driver really is in F1 until they're driving F1. You can judge them on their junior categories and judge somebody on their talent.

“But until you stick them in an F1 car, you never know what their pace is actually like, whether they can deal with the amount of load.”

F1 teams will have to allocate four practice sessions per season from next year to rookie drivers, ensuring the juniors waiting on the wings get an added boost of experience.

“I think that's why these sessions are so important,” Lawson added. 

“It's great that that young guys getting a chance, and now it looks like this may be a bit of a shift, and guys are starting to give more of us a chance.

“Because unless they do give us a chance, you can't show them how we could be in F1.”