F1 news outlets widely expected Liam Lawson to be on the 2024 grid. Whilst he is frustrated to miss out, Lawson has clarity on the path ahead.
Few drivers have left such an impression in a short period of time as Liam Lawson did. Initially a last-minute replacement for injured Daniel Ricciardo, the Kiwi soon became a valuable asset for AlphaTauri in their F1 constructors battle.
Adaptability is often a hurdle young drivers struggle with when they reach Formula 1. This difficulty is only enhanced for someone who arrives at a team mid-season without any pre-season testing.
Liam Lawson was unphased by this, however, and quickly showed comparable pace to teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Although the Japanese driver still had a slight pace advantage, the difference was relatively small.
For most fans and media members, the 21-year-old already proved he deserved a full-time seat in 2024. Red Bull decided against this, though, opting for a Ricciardo-Tsunoda lineup to drive with AlphaTauri.
Despite this setback, Lawson will almost certainly join the F1 grid at some stage. The question is almost certainly when not if. According to Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, a promotion can be expected in the foreseeable future.
Marko actually emphasised that he can expect an F1 seat in 2025 “by the latest.” It certainly wouldn’t be beyond Red Bull to give Lawson a full-time contract before next season concludes.
Lawson exercises patience
Speaking after his first stint in Formula 1, the Kiwi explained on Beyond The Grid the path that lies ahead:
“Again, it’s frustrating to take [not earning a full-time 2024 drive].
“But I can sit there and make sense of this decision and understand.
“It’s frustrating to not be driving next year, but I will continue to make the most of still being involved in Formula 1 at least.
“I’m a Red Bull driver. If I ever get a chance in Formula 1, it’ll be through Red Bull Racing. I think it would be Red Bull that give me my shot.”
Williams loan ruled out, Red Bull the only path
This addresses some of the speculation that Lawson could spend a year “on loan” to Williams. Although this idea has some merit, James Vowles seems very invested in nurturing the development of Logan Sargeant.
Whilst Lawson is arguably the greater talent, it is unrealistic for the British team to keep a driver who will inevitably leave within one season. In any case, as mentioned previously, Red Bull does not anticipate Lawson will have to wait for long.
It is unclear which domino will be the first to fall, but it seems likely that Lawson will be the first to benefit. A direct promotion to Red Bull is off the cards – Perez and Ricciardo will battle for that privilege.
However, when Red Bull decides who will partner Verstappen after 2024, slotting Lawson into AlphaTauri will be a no-brainer. Whether it’s in 2024, 2025 (or sometime in between) Liam Lawson can be expected on the F1 grid.
