Liam Lawson has broken his silence on the intense pressure he’s facing as Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko issues relentless 6 a.m. wake-up calls, demanding better performances from the young driver. After stepping into the VCARB seat following Daniel Ricciardo’s departure, the 22-year-old New Zealander has quickly felt the weight of the high-stakes environment at Red Bull, with his future in Formula 1 hanging in the balance.
Known for his brutal, no-nonsense approach, Helmut Marko has made it clear that the expectations are sky-high, especially as Red Bull struggles to maintain its performance. The Austrian advisor’s impatience is well-known, and Lawson has now found himself in the crosshairs. With Red Bull slipping in the constructors’ standings and fierce competition from Haas, Lawson revealed just how demanding Marko has been, sharing the stress of receiving early-morning warning calls.
“It’s normally a 6 a.m. phone call or something like that! And it’ll be, ‘You need to perform better,’” Lawson explained, highlighting Marko’s insistence on immediate improvement.
Lawson has been given a prime opportunity to prove himself, following a stellar stint last year as Ricciardo’s substitute during his injury. Marko had promised the young driver another chance when the time came, and now, with just six races left in the 2024 season, Lawson is under immense pressure to deliver.
But it’s not just about filling a seat – Lawson must outperform his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, to prove he deserves a spot on the 2025 grid. Rumors suggest the driver who excels in the closing races might even have a shot at a future Red Bull seat alongside Max Verstappen, adding further intensity to the situation.
“You know you need to basically win races. It’s quite often if you haven’t had a good race, you’re told that if this continues, you may not have a future with this team,” Lawson revealed, emphasizing the cutthroat nature of the sport.
The Kiwi driver is well aware that outperforming Tsunoda is key to securing his place with Red Bull for next season. He acknowledged that Marko’s tough-love approach has played a crucial role in preparing him for the high-pressure world of F1.
“It’s very cutthroat. But honestly, dealing with that, I’m so thankful to have gone through that with Helmut, honestly,” Lawson said, expressing gratitude for the demanding guidance that has toughened him up for this critical moment in his career.
With only six races left in the season, Lawson has a narrow window to prove his worth and cement his future in Formula 1. The pressure is on as Red Bull and its drivers head to Austin this weekend, where the team will also be under scrutiny to boost its performance as the 2024 season reaches its climax.
Lawson’s fight for a permanent seat at Red Bull or VCARB will be fiercely contested, with the final races setting the stage for what could be a career-defining moment.
