Source – RacingNews365.com
Helmut Marko explains why Liam Lawson’s comeback to Formula One is accompanied with a grid penalty.
Liam Lawson is set to face an immediate grid penalty upon his return to Formula 1 next month, as revealed by Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko. Lawson, who has been waiting for another shot in F1 after a promising stand-in for Daniel Ricciardo earlier this year, will have to navigate a challenging weekend in the United States Grand Prix in Austin due to an inherited engine penalty.
Daniel Ricciardo, who returned to Red Bull’s sister team AlphaTauri in a high-profile move, struggled to regain his old form. His comeback was hampered when a hand injury forced him to miss several races. In his absence, Lawson was thrust into the spotlight, and the 22-year-old New Zealander seized the opportunity, making an impression with his performances. Despite this, Ricciardo reclaimed his seat once fit, but his inconsistent results have led Red Bull to make a pivotal decision: Lawson will replace him for the remainder of the season.
Marko, a long-time advocate of young talents rising through the Red Bull program, was always vocal about Lawson’s potential, and Ricciardo’s underwhelming return only reinforced the need for change. Now, Lawson’s return to F1 may have come at a cost, but it also provides him with a golden opportunity to prove himself once again. However, this opportunity comes with a catch – he will have to deal with the legacy of Ricciardo’s engine allocation.
Formula 1’s regulations dictate that grid penalties for exceeding engine components are linked to the car, not the driver. So, as Lawson steps into Ricciardo’s seat, he inherits the engine allocation that was assigned to the Australian, meaning any potential grid drops Ricciardo would have faced now fall on Lawson’s shoulders. And that’s exactly the scenario that will play out when the F1 circus rolls into Austin for the US Grand Prix.
The US Grand Prix in Austin is also a sprint event, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. In sprint weekends, grid penalties for engine components only apply to the main race on Sunday, meaning Lawson will serve his expected 10-place grid drop for the Grand Prix. However, if he picks up any sprint-specific penalties, they will be served during the sprint race itself, which could further complicate his weekend.
Marko was candid in his remarks about the challenge facing Lawson in Austin. “The first race in the United States won’t be relevant because he has an engine penalty,” Marko explained in an interview with *Motorsport Total*. “He will drop 10 places in the sprint race, so that doesn’t exactly make life easier in Austin.” It’s a tough break for Lawson, but one that underscores the challenging nature of F1 and its unforgiving regulations.
For Ricciardo, the latest developments signify the end of a turbulent return to Red Bull’s fold. After being released by McLaren at the end of 2022, the Australian veteran was given a lifeline by Red Bull, who placed him at AlphaTauri. The expectation was that Ricciardo’s wealth of experience and proven talent would give him a chance to reignite his career. However, his performances failed to meet the team’s expectations. And after missing five races due to a broken bone in his left hand, Ricciardo’s hopes of a prolonged stay at Red Bull began to fade. With his future uncertain, Lawson’s arrival signals a changing of the guard.
Lawson, meanwhile, has been a star in waiting. When the opportunity came for him to fill in for Ricciardo earlier this season, he grabbed it with both hands, earning praise for his poise under pressure and his ability to adapt to the challenges of Formula 1. His time on the sidelines, watching Ricciardo and teammate Yuki Tsunoda battle it out, has been frustrating, but it’s also given him valuable experience.
Marko has long been a staunch supporter of Red Bull’s young driver program, and Lawson is the latest in a long line of talents that have been given a chance to shine. With Ricciardo out and Lawson in, it’s clear that Red Bull sees the 22-year-old as part of their future plans. But the question now is how Lawson will compare to Tsunoda, who has been at AlphaTauri for three seasons. Marko made it clear that the evaluation process is ongoing and that the team is looking to the future.
“We have a good number of young drivers, that is clear,” Marko said, alluding to the depth of Red Bull’s talent pool. Among those in the pipeline are F2 title contender Isack Hadjar and the rising star Arvid Lindblad, both of whom are being groomed for future F1 roles. “We have to look towards the future, and we want to have a comparison. Where does Lawson stand compared to Yuki Tsunoda? And then for the future, what do the driver pairings look like for both of our teams?”
The immediate future may be uncertain for Lawson, but it’s also filled with opportunity. The upcoming US Grand Prix in Austin will be a crucial test, both for Lawson and for Red Bull’s long-term strategy. Handling the grid penalty and sprint race dynamics will be a challenge, but if Lawson can navigate these hurdles, it could solidify his place within the Red Bull system for the 2025 season.
For now, though, all eyes will be on the United States Grand Prix as Liam Lawson steps back into the F1 spotlight, determined to make the most of his second chance. With the weight of a grid penalty looming over him, his resilience and talent will be on full display in what promises to be a pivotal weekend for both his career and Red Bull’s future plans.
