Daniel Ricciardo’s season has come to an abrupt end, and in his place, 22-year-old Kiwi Liam Lawson is stepping into the hot seat at Red Bull-owned VCARB for the final six races of the season. With the Austin GP, a high-stakes sprint weekend, looming on Oct. 19-20, all eyes are on the young driver as he battles alongside Yuki Tsunoda to prove he’s more than just a temporary stand-in.
Lawson already turned heads last season, filling in for an injured Ricciardo and impressing in his five-race stint. Now, the pressure is even higher as the New Zealander is being scrutinized for a potential full-time seat in 2025—with the ultimate prize possibly being a long-term future with Red Bull. But this is no leisurely audition.
“A Soft Landing?” – Horner Weighs In
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner offered Lawson a dose of reality while speaking on the F1 Nation podcast. “In Austin, he’ll be taking an engine penalty there anyway,” Horner revealed, referring to the 10-place grid penalty Lawson will inherit from Ricciardo’s exceeded Power Unit allocation. “So he’s got a bit of a soft landing, or soft re-entry. But of course, he’s going to be gauged against his teammate.”
All Eyes on Tsunoda Rivalry
This penalty might give Lawson some breathing room, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. He’ll need to measure up against Yuki Tsunoda, who has upped his game significantly this year. “It’s going to be fascinating to see how quickly he adapts, how quickly he gets on with it,” Horner added, clearly keen to see if Lawson can replicate the speed he demonstrated last season.
Lawson knows the gravity of the situation all too well. In an interview with the New Zealand Herald, he acknowledged, “I need to perform, and nothing is set in stone.” This is his moment to shine or risk fading into the background of the F1 paddock.
The Road Ahead: Sink or Swim?
The pressure cooker is heating up. Lawson isn’t just fighting for the remaining six races—he’s battling for his F1 future. With an engine penalty already setting him back in Austin, he’ll have to push harder than ever to prove he belongs on the grid in 2025. Will the Kiwi sensation seize this golden opportunity, or will the weight of expectation be too much to handle?
Fasten your seatbelts, because this F1 rookie’s journey just got a whole lot more intense.
