Could Liam Lawson be gearing up for his big break? Red Bull advisor, Helmut Marko, has assured the New Zealand driver that he will secure a Formula 1 seat by 2025. However, Marko has yet to reveal whether Lawson will be teaming up with Max Verstappen or Yuki Tsunoda.
Last season, Liam Lawson made a significant impression as a stand-in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo. The New Zealander notably scored points during the challenging Singapore Grand Prix, his third race in a Formula 1 car. Since Ricciardo’s return to Visa RB, Lawson has been back on the bench at Red Bull. However, Helmut Marko has some good news for the New Zealander.
Future of Lawson in Red Bull’s Hands
“He will definitely be in one of our cars next year,” the 81-year-old Marko tells the Kleine Zeitung. The Red Bull advisor had previously stated that decisions about the New Zealander’s future would be made in September. However, whether Lawson will end up at Red Bull or Visa RB, the Austrian is not yet revealing.
Pérez or Ricciardo?
A factor in the team choice for Lawson is how well Sergio Pérez performs during the second half of the season. The Mexican has been in a slump for a while, but was told by his team just before the summer break that he is getting one last chance. “If Checo can consistently show his normal speed, then we are satisfied. But he always has these fluctuations, either in qualifying or in a certain part of the race. He is not consistent and that is the problem,” explains Marko. “Let’s first see what he shows.”
If Pérez retains his Red Bull seat, then Lawson will likely replace Ricciardo at Visa RB. It was announced last June that Visa RB driver Yuki Tsunoda will also be racing for the team in 2025.
