Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old racing sensation from New Zealand, has officially taken the reins at RB for the remainder of the 2024 Formula 1 season, displacing Daniel Ricciardo after a year plagued with underperformance. But who exactly is the young driver who’s ousted one of the sport’s most beloved figures?
Lawson’s journey to Formula 1 reads like a script from a racing drama. Born on February 11, 2002, Lawson started his career in the classic way: karting in his homeland before quickly moving to single-seater racing. By 2015, he was already making waves in New Zealand’s racing circuits.
In a mere two years, Lawson made the leap to Europe, competing in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship and later returning to New Zealand to dominate the Castrol Toyota Racing Series, where he famously beat fellow Kiwi and future IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong to the title.
Lawson’s first major breakthrough came in 2019 when he entered Formula 3 with MP Motorsport. Though he finished 11th, his raw talent caught the attention of the Red Bull Junior Team, who quickly signed him up. The following season with Hitech saw Lawson clinch three wins in a pandemic-shortened calendar, finishing fifth overall.
By 2021, Lawson’s versatility was on full display. He juggled his rookie season in Formula 2 with a dramatic campaign in DTM, where he raced with Red Bull AF Corse. Lawson led the DTM championship heading into the final round at the Norisring, but his hopes were dashed in a controversial first-lap collision with rival Kelvin van der Linde. The incident left Lawson seething, branding van der Linde “the dirtiest driver” he’d ever encountered and vowing never to race in DTM again.
On the F2 circuit, Lawson dazzled with a win in Bahrain on his debut and another controversial victory in Monaco, where he overtook Oscar Piastri at the Rascasse corner—only to be disqualified later for an illegal throttle map. Despite the setbacks, he finished ninth in the standings, showcasing his tenacity and skill.
Lawson’s first real taste of F1 came in 2021 when he piloted a Red Bull RB7 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and later tested for AlphaTauri at the Abu Dhabi Young Driver Test. In 2022, he ascended to Red Bull’s official F1 Reserve Driver after Juri Vips was sacked for a racial slur incident. Lawson’s impressive showings in FP1 sessions for AlphaTauri and Red Bull solidified his status as a future star.
Determined to hone his skills, Lawson spent 2023 racing in Japan’s Super Formula series with Team Mugen, where he narrowly missed out on the title but added three wins to his burgeoning résumé. His decision to focus on his reserve role for Red Bull paid off when Ricciardo’s injury at the Dutch GP opened the door for Lawson’s F1 debut.
Lawson’s introduction to F1 was nothing short of remarkable. Despite starting from the back of the grid in a rain-soaked Dutch GP, Lawson finished ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda. He continued to impress in subsequent races, including an eye-catching performance in Singapore where he out-qualified Max Verstappen and scored his first F1 points.
With Ricciardo’s struggles and RB’s desire to rejuvenate the team, Lawson’s chance to shine arrived sooner than expected. The decision to replace Ricciardo was met with mixed emotions, but Lawson’s meteoric rise through the ranks and his undeniable talent made him the logical choice.
As Lawson steps into the RB seat for the rest of the season, he carries the weight of expectation but also the promise of a bright future. His presence on the grid marks a pivotal moment not only for his career but also for a team seeking a resurgence. Whether it’s a stepping stone to a permanent seat in 2025 or a showcase of his abilities, Lawson knows that his time is now, and he’s ready to seize it.
