Liam Lawson ruthlessly told by Red Bull chief the two drivers that could replace him
Liam Lawson has a chance to impress during the final six races, but his future is anything but assured.
Helmut Marko has told Liam Lawson that Red Bull have both Isack Hadjar and Ayumu Iwasa waiting in the wings if he fails to capture his chance over the final six races of the 2024 campaign.
Lawson was confirmed as Yuki Tsunoda’s team-mate for the run to Abu Dhabi after Daniel Ricciardo was dismissed following the Singapore Grand Prix. The New Zealander already has F1 experience, having started five races in 2023 during his predecessor’s injury lay-off.
While Lawson is considered a premium talent in the Red Bull junior system, he isn’t Marko’s only option. In Hadjar, VCARB have an alternative who is fighting Gabriel Bortoleto for the Formula Two title in his sophomore year, while Iwasa has impressed since moving to Super Formula - the same path that Pierre Gasly took into F1.
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“Liam Lawson will now be able to contest the last six rounds of the World Championship for the Racing Bulls team,” Marko wrote in his Speedweek column. “We will evaluate how he compares to Yuki Tsunoda and then we will see what happens. He must deliver a performance worthy of Formula One, as he has done in his previous GP appearances.
“We have other strong juniors in the junior squad, such as Ayumu Iwasa and Isack Hadjar. We will use them in the rookie sprint, which is to be held on the junior test day after the season finale in Abu Dhabi. Then we will see how it goes.”
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Lawson, Iwasa and Hadjar aren’t the only talents angling for a spot on the F1 grid. Oliver Bearman and Franco Colapinto have both impressed after making their debuts in 2024, and the likes of Jack Doohan, Kimi Antonelli and Gabriel Bortoleto have also played key roles in the driver market this year.
Marko continued: “The GP appearances of Oliver Bearman and especially Franco Colapinto have shown that the youngsters are ready for the step up and that the old philosophy of some team bosses that you can only promote drivers with three or four years of experience to a top team is outdated.
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“Mercedes has now proven this with its driver decision, just as Red Bull Racing has done several times in the past. So you can rely on the youth. There is a certain risk, but it is manageable and it is worth it.
“You have to give the youngsters a chance so that they can prove themselves in the GP car after they have climbed the junior ladder. This is basically fine, but unfortunately far too expensive. It starts with karting and continues through all classes. The FIA should start there and see how it can get the costs under control.”
