Another young driver is potentially on his way to the F1 grid. Here the ‘young driver’ is none other than Liam Lawson. The 22-year-old Kiwi has been in the headlines since the beginning of the ongoing ‘silly season’. He is now a potential replacement for Sergio Perez at Red Bull. This means the rookie will begin his F1 journey as Max Verstappen’s teammate. Red Bull’s reserve driver Lawson will test the RB20 at Silverstone on Thursday. Rumors suggest this test is a trial for Lawson.

Christian Horner is considering him to replace Sergio Perez in the main team. Lawson was to replace Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB. But the tables have turned! However, experts are concerned that it might be too soon to pair an inexperienced driver with Max Verstappen. The host asked Wurz about ‘throwing’ Liam Lawson into the Red Bull seat. Wurz replied, “I’m sure he’d say he [Liam] could handle it.”

He further cautioned, “Haven’t we seen it time and again that you overexpose these young drivers and then it’s just a ruthless system?” Wurz, a seasoned F1 racer, highlighted the intense pressure young drivers face with teammates like Max Verstappen or Lewis Hamilton. He suggested, “If it was me and I wanted to manage Liam Lawson, I’d bring him in at the junior team first. Then potentially promote him as and when he deserves it” while adding, “If Liam Lawson comes alongside Max Verstappen he ain’t going to look great because no one is looking great alongside Max Verstappen,” implying that anyone paired with Max would be overshadowed.

Not just Liam, there have been several young drivers, who have perished under the immense pressure of Formula 1. One of them being Nyck de Vries. However, Lawson proved his patience and skill last year when he subbed Daniel Ricciardo in AlphaTauri (now VCARB). But this time, he will be side by side with Max Verstappen!

If Liam Lawson joins Red Bull, he’ll have to face the powerhouse named Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen, the name itself, is enough to stir the waters of the motorsport world. Anyone alongside him is under constant pressure to perform as well as him. Currently, it is Sergio Perez who is experiencing the pressure. Some experts and fans believe this to be the reason behind his constant blunders. Red Bull revolves around Max Verstappen. After all, he is the most dominant driver on the present grid.

Liam Lawson must deal with this level of stress around Max. After a certain point, everyone will expect Lawson to be at par with Verstappen. Although it may not be possible, to be at least a percent closer to Verstappen’s would not be bad. Moreover, Liam would have to be consistent with his performance. Race after race he must excel.

Despite the rumor mills of F1 are working overtime, it is still unclear whether Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez this year. It could happen in 2025 as well; who knows? However, the summer break could bring with it some big news. But would that include Liam Lawson’s name? That is, as of now, a mystery. The upcoming race in Hungary is going to be extremely crucial for both Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson. As their fates intertwine with each other, fans are eagerly waiting for more such drama.

What are your takes on Liam Lawson’s possibilities in F1? Share below.