Christian Horner asserts that the Red Bull team understands Liam Lawson’s potential amid the uncertainty of Daniel Ricciardo’s contract extension.

Liam Lawson has been part of the Red Bull driver lineup for a considerable amount of time. However, the 2024 F1 season did not start well for him. His initial goal was to secure a place at Red Bull for 2025, but now that possibility seems unlikely. Additionally, his current position at RB is also at risk due to the presence of the RB reserve driver and Red Bull. Lawson replaced Ricciardo in five races last year due to a wrist injury and impressed everyone with his performances. Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal, spoke highly of Lawson when discussing the second seat at RB. Last year, the 22-year-old scored two points in five races for RB (AlphaTuari). With the recent confirmation of Ricciardo’s seat for the 2025 F1 season, the only available option in the team is Ricciardo’s seat. The ongoing season is crucial for Ricciardo as his performance will determine whether he keeps his place or if it will be given to Lawson next year. Although Lawson is a strong contender for the RB F1 seat in 2025, Horner made it clear that the Red Bull group is not in a hurry to make a decision. They will carefully evaluate all options before finalizing the second seat. Ricciardo has accumulated nine points so far this year. The 2025 driver market has been highly unpredictable and things are changing rapidly. It has also been revealed that Lawson has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the Red Bull driver lineup if he is not granted a seat next year. Taking into consideration all these factors, the battle for the second seat will only intensify.