Liam Lawson says the experience taught him patient about his future as part of the Red Bull program, a year after he replaced Daniel Ricciardo after the Singapore Grand Prix.
In 2024, Ricardo was dropped in Lawson’s favor for the rest of the season, marking the end of Australia’s Formula 1 career. Lawson was then promoted to Red Bull earlier this year, but returned to the Racing Bulls after just two races, improving his performance, reflected in his career-high fifth place in Azerbaijan. Despite the results, Lawson doesn’t expect any decisions on its 2026 plan anytime soon.
“We’ve obviously done this for a long time, but staying in the sport requires good performance, and to be honest, I know what I’m paying attention to at the moment,” Lawson said. “Baku was great, but obviously we need more to go through the next few races.
“To be honest, I’d like to know tomorrow, but obviously in this camp it’s very normal to be put on hold for a bit. That’s how it’s at the moment. I know that’s the only thing that controls my performance, so I think it’s something I’m focusing on until I get that answer.
“Obviously there are some very exciting, unique and cool races. For me too, I’ve now done a full cycle of tracks, so going to the tracks I did before is exciting, and that’s the part I enjoy most of the season.
Lawson admits that he never felt calm as a Formula 1 driver.
“To be honest, unless you have a multi-year contract, and even so, you can break a Formula 1 contract, any contract to some degree at the end of the day. “I don’t think there are many drivers except for the top guys who feel completely safe in sports.
“But it’s not really a new feeling. It’s something we’re very used to. Especially in the Red Bull program, we’re introduced at a young age. We know that the only way to step up through the ladder is to put that pressure on.
During the race seating competition, Lawson paid great respect to Ricardo (left). Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images
A year ago, Lawson was the center of many speculations in Singapore, but Red Bull had not officially confirmed a swap with Ricardo until after the race weekend. Ricardo has spent very little time in the public eye since then, but Lawson says he continues to feel his support.
“It was obviously very uncomfortable,” he said of the time. “I think all I took from it was how good Daniel was and how he was for me, since he first came to his seat when he was first injured.
“We had a very good relationship. Honestly, he sent me a lovely message after Baku. He is clearly on his own journey, but he is very supportive.
“He’s out a bit. He probably needs to shave his beard in most people’s opinions!”