22-year-old Liam Lawson is back in Formula One. The New Zealander is replacing Daniel Ricciardo at RB F1 for the final six races of this year’s campaign. He’ll start at the United States Grand Prix at COTA next month.
Pit Debrief learned from a source on the Saturday of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that Lawson would be announced after the Singapore GP, and it has come true.
There has been speculation for months that the Kiwi would be free to speak with other teams as there was clause in his contract that said he must have a guaranteed seat by the end of September.
An injury to Daniel Ricciardo at Zandvoort last year gave Lawson an opportunity to do five events alongside teammate Yuki Tsunoda. He impressed.
Singapore was the standout highlight as he knocked Max Verstappen out in Q2, and Lawson qualified P10. He drove a very solid and mature race, making no big mistakes, to finish a superb 9th and score two points in only his third F1 start.
At Suzuka, he beat Tsunoda on merit as a brilliant first lap pass on the home hero saw him take P11, fending off his teammate on older tyres in the final stint. He finished P11 at Monza, too.
Lawson finished 2nd in the DTM championship in 2021, and he did the same in Super Formula last year.
His best championship result in Formula 2 was a P3 in 2022, and he came 5th in Formula 3 two years previously.
This change comes at a critical time in the championship. Nico Hülkenberg’s P9 finish at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend means Haas is just three points adrift of RB in the battle for P6 in the Constructors’ Championship with six races + three sprints to go.
Visa Cash App RB Team Principal, Laurent Mekies said: “Everyone here at VCARB would like to thank Daniel for his hard work across the last two seasons with us.
“He has brought a lot of experience and talent to the Team with a fantastic attitude, which has helped everyone to develop and foster a tight team spirit.
“Daniel has been a true gentleman both on and off the track and never without that smile. He will be missed, but will always hold a special place within the Red Bull family.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to welcome Liam.
“He already knows the Team well. He drove for us last season, and coped well under difficult circumstances, so it’ll be a natural transition. It’s great to see young talent from within the Red Bull family make the next step.
“We’re looking forward to getting our heads down and focusing on the rest of the season together.”
