Liam Lawson will take Daniel Ricciardo’s seat at Visa Cash App RB starting next week and will stay for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
After a brief appearance in Formula 1 last year, also replacing Ricciardo, the young New Zealander is back for an indefinite period. Let’s dive into his motorsport career. Despite his young age, he has an impressive resume.
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The early career of Lawson: from karting to FIA F3
Liam Lawson was born in 2002 in Hastings, New Zealand. He quickly developed a passion for motorsport, starting karting at age seven. He moved on to the Australian Formula 4 series in 2018 and then competed in German Formula 4, where he finished P2 in both championships. In 2019, he entered FIA Formula 3 and finished 11th, despite a weak car. For his second season in 2020, he signed with Hitech Racing. Although he wasn’t in contention for the title, he caught Red Bull’s eye for his performances and finished 5th in the championship with three wins.
Liam Lawson joins Red Bull’s junior team
In 2021, Lawson entered Formula 2, again with Hitech. The story repeated itself: a difficult first season followed by strong progress. He also competed in DTM with AF Corse and finished as vice-champion. In 2022, he finished P3 in the F2 championship, behind Drugovich and Pourchaire, with four wins and ten podiums to his name.
From Formula 2 to the edge of F1
In the 2022 F1 season, Lawson took part in free practice sessions for AlphaTauri during the Belgian, Mexican, and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. In 2023, with Pierre Gasly’s departure from AlphaTauri, Helmut Marko opted for the experience of Nick De Vries over the young New Zealander. As a result, Lawson had to go to Japan to compete in the Super Formula series, a top-tier category just below Formula 1, where talented drivers like Pierre Gasly have raced, and finished P2. Lawson continued his streak of second places.