Jacques Villeneuve has told Max Verstappen that Liam Lawson is thinking he is "there to replace" the world champion at Red Bull.
Lawson is starting his first full-time F1 season in 2025, and has been promoted from Racing Bulls after a total of 11 grands prix to partner the four-time world champion after Sergio Perez was axed.
Kiwi Lawson has been backed by boss Christian Horner to use his mental strength to not be mentally crushed by Verstappen in the same way that befell Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Perez.
Looking ahead to the new partnership, 1997 world champion Villeneuve has told Verstappen that Lawson has bigger ambitions than just playing number two driver.
"It's a big chance for Liam Lawson, it's a big opportunity, but we've seen drivers being put into the main team right away collapse very quickly," Villeneuve told Action Network.
"We'll see how mentally strong he is and how good he really is, because we don't know yet. I mean, you cannot take his F2 season, his Japanese season or his races against Tsunoda as a benchmark.
“Contractually Lawson is there to help Verstappen, but in his own head, he's not.
"In his head, he's there to replace Max, so he will try to be tough and quick.
"Hopefully it will put Max under pressure and push Max to drive even better. and this way helps the team to make progress."
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Villeneuve hands Lawson clear instruction
As for what is realistic for Lawson in his first season in a world championship-winning team, 1995 Indy 500 winner Villeneuve has a clear instruction of what is expected.
"If it's not a winning car, and they're not winning the championship, in which case you would have to say, has to be P2 or nothing, then a good finish for Lawson would be one place behind Verstappen or two places behind him, that's it," he said.
"Not anything more. If you're winning races, you make a big points tally, and because first to second is a big difference.
"If you're finishing third, fourth, fifth, the point difference is tiny."
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