Liam Lawson has downplayed the prospect of securing a drive with Red Bull Racing in 2025, despite his recent six-race stint with the team. The 22-year-old driver, who made his Formula 1 debut last year with what was then known as AlphaTauri, has returned to the grid in place of Daniel Ricciardo. While poor performances from Sergio Perez could open opportunities for Lawson if he excels, the New Zealander insists he’s not entertaining such possibilities at this time.
“I think that’s very far ahead, honestly,” Lawson stated during the FIA press conference at the Circuit of the Americas. “The target or goal has remained the same since I joined the [Red Bull] program at 17. It’s all performance-based, and that’s basically how they’ll be looking at it.”
Reflecting on his previous season with AlphaTauri, Lawson acknowledged the significance of his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, as a benchmark for performance comparison. “Obviously, Yuki’s done a very good job the last couple of years, especially this year, and he’s the benchmark for them to compare me against,” he noted. “He’s the only one in the same car as me, so people will directly compare me with him. The goal or expectation is for me to compete alongside him. As for where that sets me for next year or in the future, I have absolutely no idea, but I’ve set that target.”
Lawson emphasized his immediate focus on helping the team maintain its sixth position in the constructors’ championship, especially with Haas closing the gap in recent races. Although he hasn’t raced since finishing the Japanese Super Formula championship last year, he participated in a Pirelli tyre test for Red Bull last week at Mugello, which provided valuable preparation.
“It was useful for my neck, honestly,” Lawson remarked about the test. “We did just long runs, basically. As much as I would have preferred to do some short runs and push, it was beneficial to get ready for the longer races in Formula 1.”
With his sights firmly set on the present, Lawson aims to deliver strong performances and support his team as they navigate the remainder of the season.
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