“It’s a Shame”: Despite Helmut Marko’s Assurance, Liam Lawson Left in Shambles as Daniel Ricciardo Chalks Return

At the beginning of 2023, AlphaTauri had lost their ace Pierre Gasly to Alpine. Following that the Faenza-based constructor deployed the Honey Badger to help with their development. But luck would have it otherwise. Liam Lawson turned heads up and down the grid as soon as he replaced an injured Daniel Ricciardo. Over the last 5 races, he has consistently shown why he is deserving of a full-time seat in Formula 1. Yet his future in F1 hangs in the balance, as Ricciardo returns to the Italian outfit at the Austin GP.

The 2023 Qatar GP marked the end of Lawson’s stint as Ricciardo’s substitute. His performance in the first 4 races had received applause from the likes of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. Circuit Lusail proved to be challenging for rookies and veterans alike. The conditions clearly affected Lawson’s drive. The super-sub finished P17, achieving his lowest finish after replacing Ricciardo. In the earlier races, Lawson had bested Yuki Tsunoda on multiple occasions. He also outperformed Tsunoda at Suzuka. Unfortunately for Lawson, this remarkable feat proved to come a little too late, because Ricciardo and Tsunoda have been confirmed to be the 2024 driver line-up for AlphaTauri.

A shocking Qatar GP spelled trouble for Liam Lawson

After a tantalizing display of his adaptability and calm demeanor, the Kiwi rookie could not help but feel poorly about the result. The AT04 proved to be a mighty challenge under the harsh conditions in Lusail. Not only was the race physically draining, but a constant battle with an unhappy car. Lawson shared his thoughts on the drive as quoted by Formula Passion, “It was really complicated out there, from the beginning of the race we had no speed and throughout the course we had to manage some stability problems.”

“It was very hot and when you have difficulty with the car it becomes even more difficult to find the rhythm. It seems to be my last race with the team before Daniel’s return, I want to thank the team from the bottom of my heart and it’s a shame to end like this.” [translated via Google]

Although Tsunoda got the better of Lawson at the Qatar GP, he was not far off. The Japanese driver seemed to struggle with the car’s pace. After the race, Tsunoda expressed, “Today it was tough and warmer than in Singapore, so it was definitely a challenging race – he added – my start was good and smooth, I recovered positions and I was in the points zone. I felt good inside the car and the balance was also good, but we were just too slow and couldn’t keep up the pace.”

Speaking on Lawson’s exit, Tsunoda said, “I think Liam might not drive for us to Austin, so I want to thank him because he did a great job. I enjoyed the time spent together as good friends and teammates.”

Lawson’s performance has definitely had a lasting impression despite his disappointment. Red Bull Racing boss, Christian Horner, stated that the “Super-Sub” could not have done anymore to further his case. This is a clear sign that Red Bull‘s plans for the young Kiwi stretch beyond 2023.

Marko’s plans for Lawson’s future

Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are confident in their abilities to manage their driver roster. The choice to keep Tsunoda is obvious because of his ties with Honda and his performance as of late. Whereas Daniel Ricciardo is a proven race winner, who can help the junior team get up to speed. His friendly attitude and marketability are a bonus. And therefore, it would make sense for Red Bull to keep Liam Lawson on the sidelines. This way, the team can analyze Ricciardo’s performance over a longer time period, in case he proves to be a suitable replacement for Sergio Perez.

Is the only seat available for 2024 at Williams, but will Red Bull let such a talented rookie off their clutches? Given the surplus drivers in Red Bull Racing’s roster, it would come as no surprise if he is loaned out to Williams. The constructor’s champions have used this tactic before. To ease the uncertainty, Liam Lawson has been given a contractual guarantee for a 2025 race drive in either of Red Bull’s teams. The prospect of Ricciardo replacing a poorly performing Perez could benefit Lawson as well, him a seat with the Italian outfit.

Should Red Bull really leave such a promising driver hanging? It would be a shame for a rookie of this caliber to spend a year as a reserve driver when there is a seat available at Williams. Red Bull is notorious for their driver changes, but will it cost them like it did Alpine? Only time will tell.