Liam Lawson remains true to his aggressive driving style while Alexander Albon advises the New Zealander against a premature switch to Red Bull
Liam Lawson is on the verge of a decisive career step. After his strong debut with the Racing Bulls, the young New Zealander is considered a potential successor to Sergio Perez in the Red Bull team from 2025. His aggressive driving style is causing a stir, as recently at the Grand Prix in Mexico, where he clashed with Perez.
Despite the subsequent apology, Lawson emphasizes that he will maintain his style and learn from it for the future. “My approach to racing will not change,” he declares resolutely. After an intense battle, Perez was initially able to hold his position, but Lawson passed him on the straight a little later. In an impromptu moment of frustration, he showed Perez the middle finger, a gesture for which he later apologized.
Nevertheless, the 21-year-old remains determined to establish himself as an aggressive driver: “Of course I make mistakes, but I learn from them,” says Lawson. And: “I’m here to win races, not make friends.”
Albon: Lawson would do well to gain more experience
Alexander Albon, who drove for Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen from 2019 to 2020 and whose career was also shaped by decisions made by Red Bull’s senior management, is giving Lawson valuable advice. Albon recommends that he be patient and develop further before taking on the challenge of competing against a driver like Verstappen.
“In the best case, he’ll be sitting in the Red Bull soon,” explains Albon. ‘But competing against Max is no easy task. A few years of experience wouldn’t hurt.’ Albon knows what he’s talking about; after all, he had to give up his place at Red Bull to Perez after poor results against Verstappen.
Lawson admits mistakes in fight with Perez
After the incident in Mexico, Lawson spoke to team management and motorsport consultant Helmut Marko to reflect on the situation. Marko had called the incident an “unnecessary collision”. Lawson admits that, in retrospect, he should have cut the chicane to avoid the collision.
“Maybe it wasn’t the smartest decision in the moment. But the track is about fractions of a second,” he explains. ‘I’ve discussed the situation with the team and I will learn from it.’
The pressure on Lawson is high: Red Bull is looking for a strong long-term successor for Perez, who is currently underperforming. In addition to Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, who also drives for the Racing Bulls, and Franco Colapinto, who is currently considered a promising talent at Williams, are being touted as possible candidates for the Red Bull cockpit.
In Abu Dhabi, Tsunoda will get the opportunity to show his skills in a Red Bull during a test – a further indication that the drivers from the junior team have to prove themselves in order to be recommended for promotion.
Albon: Tsunoda and Lawson “feel the pressure”
Albon also recognizes the internal pressure: “The Red Bull drivers feel this pressure, every fight for the cockpit is intense,” he says. “Liam and Yuki are both hungry, you can see that.” However, Albon points out that in Lawson’s case, spending more time with Racing Bulls could be an advantage in preparing for the challenges of the main team.
For Lawson, the situation is clear: “I will continue to drive as I have done so far,” he confirms. “Of course, it’s important to recognize mistakes and learn from them, but I’m not going to fundamentally change my racing behavior.” He makes it clear that he does not want to bend, but rather focuses on developing his strengths as a driver and convincing with his performance.
The Red Bull team values drivers who show assertiveness – a trait that has also led Verstappen to success. Lawson’s determination to appear self-confident and intrepid could certainly benefit him at the Red Bull helm, as long as he doesn’t overstep the mark. It’s a balancing act that Albon is also familiar with. He is excited to see how Lawson develops: “It would be an exciting prospect to see Liam in a Red Bull at some point. But all in good time.”
