Oct.23 (GMM) Purple Bull is unfazed by Method 1 rookie Liam Lawson’s very public and prolonged spat with two-time champion Fernando Alonso in Austin.
The US GP was 22-year-old Lawson’s first race since changing the ousted Daniel Ricciardo on the Purple Bull junior crew RB – and he impressed.
The New Zealander is clearly a contender to doubtlessly substitute the struggling Sergio Perez on the senior crew subsequent yr, however so too is his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
Backer Honda is pushing Japanese Tsunoda’s candidacy very exhausting, with HRC president Koji Watanabe even publicly calling for Purple Bull Racing to offer the 24-year-old a take a look at.
“We’ve got some plans for Abu Dhabi,” stated Purple Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko, presumably referring to the end-of-season take a look at. “However, as you already know, we even have (Isack) Hadjar and now Liam as effectively.”
As for Lawson, he attracted F1 veteran Alonso’s fury within the Austin dash race final Saturday along with his feisty wheel-to-wheel racing. The 2-time champion known as Lawson an “fool” on the radio and was later noticed and photographed arguing with the younger New Zealander.
“He stated he was going to screw me and I feel he saved his phrase,” Lawson then stated after qualifying, following one other on-track second between the pair popping out of the pitlane.
“He was actually upset – I don’t know why,” stated Lawson. “Hopefully he can recover from it and we will transfer on.”
Alonso had calmed down considerably by the top of Sunday’s predominant race, however he warned Lawson that their sudden new rivalry may very well be set to race on.
“Everybody behaves as they need on the monitor,” stated the 43-year-old Spaniard. “I feel that’s superb. It’s 24 races, so that you at all times meet one another right here and there throughout a season.”
So far as Purple Bull bosses Marko and Christian Horner had been involved, nevertheless, they loved Lawson’s run-in with Alonso. “He was very spectacular all weekend,” Marko stated. “And Alonso was complaining!”
Horner agreed: “I assume when you get right into a struggle with Fernando and stick out your elbows in your first race after coming again, you’re most likely doing one thing proper.
“I feel he had an distinctive race,” the Briton added. “He confirmed pace, he confirmed braveness. It was an awesome comeback.”
