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Liam Lawson has missed out on a seat for next year but Red Bull boss Christian Horner says “it’s only a matter of time” before the New Zealand ace is racing in Formula One on a fulltime basis.
It was confirmed ahead of Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix that Lawson would return to the AlphaTauri team as a reserve driver in 2024.
AlphaTauri’s decision to remain loyal to their current driving pair of Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo means Lawson will have to bide his time before fulfilling his dream of becoming a fulltime driver.
Lawson had impressed when he stepped in as Ricciardo’s replacement, the latter requiring surgery on a broken hand sustained in a practice round at Zandvoort in the Netherlands late last month, by reaching Q3 in just his third race in Singapore and then backed that up with his first points finish.
Lawson’s ninth place in Singapore last weekend was the team’s best result of the season.
Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images
Liam Lawson has made a big impression in his first three races in Formula One.
Despite the Kiwi’s fine efforts, AlphaTauri has elected to re-sign Tsunoda and Ricciardo, with Lawson to continue as the reserve driver for both AlphaTauri and Red Bull.
Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, addressed the decision to keep Lawson in a reserve role at AlphaTauri on the television broadcast ahead of the first qualifying session at the Japan GP on Saturday.
He spoke highly of the 21-year-old and said Lawson had given Red Bull “plenty to think about” as they weighed up their options for 2024.
Lawson qualified 11th fastest for Sunday’s race after he was nudged out of the top 10 on the final lap of the second session.
“All of those drivers are Red Bull drivers effectively placed at AlphaTauri and I think Daniel with his experience and his motivation to come back, will add great leadership to that team,” Horner said.
“Yuki is making progress and I think having Daniel there has that benchmark, he will certainly learn from that.
“Liam, it’s only a matter of time before he gets his fulltime chance. To have the three of them there is very strong for the group.
“He certainly turned heads and gave us plenty to think about, and in particular following his Singapore drive.
“He’s doing everything possible to justify a case for a fulltime drive but unfortunately, three into two doesn’t go.”
Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Liam Lawson of New Zealand pictured in action during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit last weekend.
Williams are the only team in Formula One with a spare seat for 2024 now, but Horner shot down talk of potentially loaning Lawson out to another team and said he just needed to bide his time as a reserve.
There could be a potential opening alongside defending champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025 with Sergio Pérez off-contract at the end of next year.
“There’s only one seat available in Formula One at the moment, and that’s the Williams seat, but it would be unlikely they would take a driver for one year,” Horner added.
“He [Lawson] is going to focus on that test and reserve role and do as much in the background in the simulator.
“We’ve seen what he’s capable of, and he’s got the opportunity this weekend. It’s 50-50 regarding Qatar at the moment, but he’s done the right thing. He’s grabbed that opportunity.
“I said to him yesterday, you’ve done everything and more that you could have.”
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