Liam Lawson has been making waves in Formula One (F1) since replacing Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull’s sister team, Visa Cash App RB (VCARB).
A controversial incident involving Red Bull’s veteran driver, Sergio Perez, has led many people to question whether he has the right temperament and maturity to succeed.
The New Zealander’s competitive edge has given Red Bull’s top brass plenty to think about for the future. With that in mind, we assess whether Lawson will be F1’s next breakout star.
Lawson Giving Red Bull Plenty to Think About
After emerging from Red Bull’s competitive academy, Lawson has earned the chance to show the world that he can be competitive in F1.
Lawson’s results have been a mixed bag. He finished in the points in his first race this season, claiming ninth place at the United States Grand Prix.
However, he failed to repeat that performance in Mexico, where he finished 16th. His performance will have frustrated punters in New Zealand.
Many Kiwis have started wagering on F1 since Lawson joined the grid and they bet heavily on him finishing in the points on the best betting sites for new customers.
His odds would have generated an eye-catching profit, but a run-in with Perez ruined his race. However, he was back in the points in Brazil, securing a ninth-place finish.
The New Zealander is gradually proving to be a game-changer for a VCARB team that has historically struggled to push past the middle of the pack in F1.
The Controversial Incident with Perez
Lawson’s temperament has been a major talking point stretching back to his days in the Red Bull academy, and it did not take long for that fire to show itself on the F1 stage.
The 22-year-old is widely regarded as a potential replacement for Perez, whose days at Red Bull could be coming to an end after a massively underwhelming campaign.
The Mexican driver is already on thin ice, so Lawson’s recent antics in his senior teammate’s hometown did not go down well.
The pair got into a heated battle on track at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which ended with Lawson giving the middle finger to the Red Bull driver.
The incident occurred after a collision between the pair on lap 19 which caused damage to Perez’s car, and the Mexican driver was fuming.
He slammed Lawson for not having the right attitude for F1, but the New Zealander’s rebuttal raised plenty of eyebrows as he claimed his character is a key part of his racing talent.
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko was unimpressed with Lawson and blamed him for the crash, describing it as ‘an unnecessary collision’.
Some people may see Lawson’s fierce attitude as a positive trait, but he may have harmed his prospects of getting a promotion for next season.
Lawson May Need to Chill Out a Little
Lawson’s priority is to help VCARB push up the constructors’ standings in the final three races.
It could effectively be an audition for the coveted Red Bull seat, with team principal Christian Horner confirming that he is looking at the ‘bigger picture’ in assessing Lawson’s future.
F1 is notoriously unforgiving. Each mistake is heavily scrutinised, and Lawson’s squabble with Perez could potentially derail his promising career.
However, he eventually showed maturity by admitting his error and vowing to learn from it. Changing his attitude shows an elite mentality that could take him to the very top.
Lawson undeniably has plenty of potential. His record with VCARB is outstanding, considering they do not have the same resources as the top teams.
He could get an opportunity only a few young drivers have managed – getting a seat at Red Bull – but he must balance his temperament with sportsmanship and work hard to improve.
