Lawson issues update on F1 future

Liam Lawson has stated that he is “staying ready” in the hope he is offered a full-time Formula 1 drive.

Lawson took part in five Grands Prix last year, standing in for Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri when the eight-time race winner suffered a wrist injury at the Dutch Grand Prix.

His efforts impressed Red Bull’s Helmut Marko who asserted that Lawson would be issued a full-time drive “at the latest” by 2025.

Speaking to Speedcafe, Lawson detailed that he has not been delivered an update on the situation.

“Honestly, there’s no set timeline for my future,” he said. “There’s nothing set in stone, obviously, with my future.

“Basically, for me, it’s about staying ready and hopefully we have some opportunity coming.

“I still feel like a rookie. It’ll basically be mostly simulator work and then going to all the races with the team as a reserve.”

2023 F1 races delivered ‘confidence’

Lawson was thrown into the deep end at Zandvoort last year for his F1 debut as he had just one free practice session to prepare before a wet qualifying session and race.

His run of Grands Prix peaked at the Singapore event when he bagged ninth place for the team, which was the squad’s best result of the season at the time.

“Obviously, it gives you confidence in yourself,” Lawson said, reflecting on his maiden F1 races.

“Every driver, at this level anyway, has enough self-belief to be in Formula 1 – you have to have it even to come close.

“But it’s different because obviously I always imagine what it would be to [like] drive in Formula 1. Now I know what it’s like.

“It’s a different perspective. I’ve had the smallest little taste of it, yeah, so it’s a different perspective. It definitely makes it more frustrating.”