Liam Lawson is vying for a full-time Formula 1 seat after making a strong impression during his substitute appearances last year.
In a setback for Liam Lawson, Red Bull CEO Peter Bayer has affirmed the team’s contentment with its existing driver roster, signaling a challenging path ahead for the promising New Zealander.
Currently serving as Red Bull’s reserve driver, Lawson stepped in admirably for five races last year when Daniel Ricciardo was sidelined by injury. Despite his impressive performances, Red Bull chose to retain Ricciardo alongside Yuki Tsunoda for the 2024 season, leaving Lawson in a supporting role once more.
Earlier this year, Lawson issued a stern warning to Red Bull, declaring he would seek opportunities elsewhere if not promoted for the 2025 season. Yet, Bayer’s recent statements suggest Lawson’s ambitions may remain unfulfilled. “I think we’re very happy with both of our drivers,” Bayer told media. “We’re not wasting time discussing ifs and whens. We have a very strong line-up and a great reserve driver.”
Bayer emphasized the team’s focus on performance, rather than driver changes. “We have great talent coming through F2 and F3, and our priority is on outpacing Aston Martin rather than engaging in driver discussions,” he explained.
Red Bull’s strong start to the 2024 season has propelled them to sixth place in the constructors’ championship, with 24 points from the first eight rounds—19 of which have been scored by Tsunoda. Reflecting on Tsunoda’s development, Bayer remarked, “He has made significant strides in both physical preparation and mental readiness.”
Bayer highlighted Tsunoda’s growing professionalism, noting, “He’s learned that every time he swore on the radio, it cost him a tenth of a second. Now, he’s extremely focused and provides excellent feedback to the engineers. He’s definitely stepped up.”
As Lawson continues to impress from the sidelines, the road to a full-time F1 seat with Red Bull appears increasingly uncertain, with Bayer’s latest comments reinforcing the team’s satisfaction with its current driver pairing.
