Liam Lawson says he’s been instructed to match Yuki Tsunoda to safe himself a full-time seat in Components 1 in 2025.
Purple Bull made the choice to drop Daniel Ricciardo for the remainder of this season and exchange him with Lawson at RB, with the New Zealander making his first begin of the yr this weekend at america Grand Prix. Lawson says the dedication is just for the remaining six races thus far, and that he nonetheless has to earn the spot alongside Tsunoda subsequent season.
“It’s fairly easy,” Lawson instructed RACER. “The kind of goal that was set is to principally carry out within the seat. They need me to clearly match Yuki, and that’ll give me my finest shot at having a seat subsequent yr, however it’s at all times being evaluated.
“They may even say that you just’re going to be racing subsequent yr, but when I don’t do a great job subsequent yr, then clearly they’re not going to place me within the automotive. And it’s at all times simply going to be like that.”
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Lawson impressed throughout 5 races standing in for the injured Ricciardo final yr, and he doesn’t really feel any added stress as a consequence of elevated expectations following these outings.
“It’s undoubtedly not how I take a look at it,” he mentioned. “Even if you happen to’re an skilled driver, even if you happen to’ve had an incredible season, if you happen to go into a brand new season — even a brand new race weekend — we’re all very short-sighted on these items. And in case you have an incredible race weekend, that’s high-quality, however you principally begin once more subsequent time, and we’re at all times being evaluated.
“It’s at all times going to be like that, regardless if it’s my first six races, or if I’m 5 seasons in and I’m going into one other season. For those who’re not doing a great job, you then’re going to be judged — by the workforce particularly — by your efficiency.
“It’s the identical as final yr. The one distinction is I not less than know that I’m getting the six [starts]. Final yr, I didn’t know what number of I used to be going to do. Nevertheless it’s all performance-based, and it at all times will likely be. So I assume the earlier I understand and settle for that, the higher off I’ll be.”
Whereas Lawson is clearly the frontrunner for a full-time seat in 2025 – workforce principal Christian Horner even hinted he may very well be within the body for a Purple Bull drive if required – there are additionally choices within the Purple Bull junior ranks rising in the direction of F1, with Isack Hadjar the most certainly different. The French driver is presently second within the Components 2 standings, 4.5 factors off the lead, and has accomplished three FP1 outings already.
