Dr Helmut Marko has explained to RTL the decision to promote Liam Lawson to Red Bull F1 for the 2025 season, despite the driver’s comparatively limited Formula One experience, was due to Lawson’s mental strength.
“Liam Lawson is mentally the strongest of our juniors, considering he only has comparatively little Grand Prix experience.”
Marko views Lawson’s mental strength as an asset for 2025 partnership with [unbeatable] Verstappen
Marko, advisor to Red Bull F1 since 2005, and head of the driver development programme, explained Lawson’s mental strength would prove beneficial in his partnership with Max Verstappen, who recently secured the 2024 World Drivers’ Championship title — his fourth career title.
“It’s important that when you are driving next to Max, who no one can beat, that you accept that there is someone who you just can’t beat. And I think Liam has this mental strength.
Lawson never gave up despite “ups and downs” during season
When asked how he has measured Lawson’s mental strength, Marko highlighted the New Zealander’s resilience and perseverance in previous series, despite his difficulties and disappointments. He referenced, Lawson’s time 2021 season in DTM where he was denied the championship title due to, as described by Marko, an “unsportsmanlike manoeuvre” by Sheldon van der Linde.
“You can see that, for example, Liam Lawson also drove in the DTM, lost the championship due to a very unsportsmanlike manoeuvre by this South African pilot.
“He also experienced ups and downs during the season, but he never gave up.”
Lawson did not give up F2 championship fight despite engine disparities
Marko also referenced Lawson’s experience during the 2022 F2 season where, differences between Lawson’s engine and that of teammate Logan Sargeant, allegedly compromised the former’s performances. Marko stated that, despite being slower than his teammate, Lawson persevered, eventually placing third in the championship, ahead of Sargeant.
“In F2, there are sometimes big differences between the engines. His teammate was the American [Logan] Sargeant, who received a new engine after it was clear that he was headed for F1. After that, he was three to five-tenths quicker on the straights.
“Knowing that there was nothing he could do about this, he didn’t give up; he continued to fight.
“He only placed third in the championship, but others would have despaired and told themselves that they did not have a shot with that engine.”
Marko compares Lawson to McLaren and Hulme
Marko also complimented Lawson’s “down-to-earth” nature and compared him to McLaren founder Bruce McLaren and 1967 championship winner Denny Hulme.
“In addition, he is very down-to earth, and I compare him, most viewers won’t know them today, but with Bruce McLaren, the founder of the McLaren team, and with world champion Denny Hulme.”
He stated that Lawson, like McLaren and Hulme, had a “let’s race” mindset, and had shown it in duels with other, more experienced drivers.
“They are all of the ‘let’s race’ mindset, and you can see that in his approach to duels. It’s extremely tough, I would say. He doesn’t give up.
“He has already proven that in a few races, with Hamilton, with Alonso, but also with [Sergio] Checo Pérez.”
While Marko acknowledged that Lawson was still relatively inexperienced in F1, he stated that the driver showed great potential for further development which further increased his value as an asset to the team.
“In addition, we also see a great potential for further development due to his little Grand Prix experience.”
Lawson has completed a total of 11 Grands Prix — five in 2023 and six in 2024. While Lawson will not be the most inexperienced driver on the 2025 grid, his experience is certainly lacking compared to the likes of Max Verstappen who has completed 209 Grands Prix, and former RB (now Racing Bulls) teammate Yuki Tsunoda who has completed 90 Grands Prix.
Marko identifies expectations of Lawson for 2025
While Marko does not expect Lawson to outperform Verstappen, he stated that he expected the New Zealander to be within three-tenths of his teammate at Red Bull F1, and to steadily increase his performance in races, if possible.
“He should be within three-tenths of Max in both in qualifying and in the race. That should be enough to get points for the Constructors’ Championship.
“He should also steadily increase his performance — if possible.“
Marko emphasised that it was important for Lawson to understand that he was competing with “the best Formula 1 driver” and warned Lawson against focusing on beating Verstappen. He added that such a mindset had proven detrimental to Verstappen’s former teammates.
“Keeping in mind that within the team he is racing against what is currently the best Formula 1 driver and avoid what many other teammates of Max have done, where they tried find remedies in the technology, [that is] with some absurd set-ups and strategic plays.
“You have to accept that he is the best and see how far you can get. But you can’t go in there thinking ‘I am going to beat him’. That went wrong with all his teammates.”
Lawson will be Verstappen’s fifth different teammate at Red Bull Racing with all but Daniel Ricciardo having been forced out after underwhelming performances against Verstappen.
Lawson “very relieved” after seat confirmed for 2025 — Marko
When asked about Lawson’s reaction to his promotion to Red Bull Racing for the 2025 season, Marko stated that Lawson felt very relieved. He explained that delays due to Pérez’s contract situation had left Lawson “a little restless.”
“As I said, he is very down-to-earth and he had to wait a while until he even got into Formula 1. And then, due to the contract situation with Checo Perez, it took a while before we contractually were allowed to say something.
“So, he got a little restless, but let’s put it this way, he was very relieved.”
Co-Author: Rebecca Malitz
