It’s been a series of bad news for Daniel Ricciardo over the past few years and his performances for VCARB so far have failed to impress. With speculation rife that the Australian is about to be replaced in the team by Liam Lawson, there might be nowhere left for him to go. While this means good news for the young Kiwi, one of F1’s most favorite drivers might have to step off the grid.

There was nothing to soften the blow for Ricciardo as after the rumors started, the VCARB CEO stepped up to give an update on the 22-year-old. In a conversation with Speedcafe, Peter Bayer spoke about the young upcoming driver and his positivity towards Lawson looks like a problem for Daniel Ricciardo.

Peter Bayer reveals that Liam Lawson is an “important part” of VCARB

The Dutch Grand Prix was where Liam Lawson substituted for Ricciardo. While this was to help the team score points, which he did during his rookie season, this made him a viable candidate to replace Daniel Ricciardo. Peter Bayer told Speedcafe, “First of all, he’s a very good reserve driver. He’s keeping the fire warm under the two seats – they’re not getting lazy.”

Bayer continued, “At the same time, we do try and run him as much as we can. We’ve done a TPC [Testing Previous Car] in January in Imola. We want to do another one. So we try and give him as much track time as we possibly can afford.”

Giving more insight into what Lawson means to the Bulls, Bayer stated, “He’s doing simulator sessions and he’s with us. He’s an important part of the team, but I think that is really it.” Currently, Liam Lawson is traveling with the teams and constantly practices in the simulator.

The rule states that during the rookie season, a driver must have competed in two or fewer Grand Prix to be eligible to race further. The thing holding him back is that he is no longer eligible for FP1 as he has competed in 5 races. It is because of this, that Ayumu Iwasa is getting a chance to drive the VCARB car during FP1 of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Everything we know about Ayumu Iwasa so far

Ayumu Iwasa is a rising talent in motorsport, currently part of the Red Bull Junior Team. Born in Osaka, Japan, in 2001, Iwasa’s passion for racing was nurtured by his parents, both former racers themselves. He began karting at a young age and progressed through various series, including winning the French F4 Championship in 2020 and impressing in his debut in the FIA-F3 Championship in 2021.

Since 2021, Ayumu Iwasa has actively engaged with Red Bull’s development program, driving his career forward and bolstering his connections with Honda, Red Bull’s partner in motorsport. He relentlessly pursues his aspiration to reach Formula 1, acknowledging the invaluable support of his family, mentors, and affiliations along the way.

With his debut expected soon, there’s anticipation about his performance and potential as a replacement for struggling drivers like Daniel Ricciardo. There are currently two hot new drivers in Red Bull’s reserve, and Ricciardo has a lot to prove if he wants to stay in the sport. That being said, Liam Lawson’s prospects for 2025 look strong and we would love to see him on the grid. Considering everything, do you think that Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo on the grid? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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