Liam Lawson: The Fight for Redemption in the Red Bull Empire

 

Every time I watch a Grand Prix now, my eyes gravitate towards Liam Lawson.

He began this season as a Red Bull Formula 1® team driver in a car with the potential to win races, claim podiums, and certainly collect points at every single Grand Prix. 

Yet, the media hype and, frankly, the destructive nature of some of the comments made against Liam – a young man entering only his second year in Formula 1® – must have been incredibly damaging and upsetting to deal with.

He handled the demotion remarkably well. 

While he experienced an unlucky, unfortunate, and admittedly destructive start to the first few races of the season, I’m not entirely sure a demotion was the right thing to do. 

However, in the world of Formula 1®, surrounded by powerful car manufacturers, oil and gas giants, massive sponsors, and the biggest audience in sports, I'm never surprised that the sport is full of cloak-and-dagger politics. 

It seemed that Yuki Tsunoda arrived with a very nice, tidy paid driver fee and a huge sponsor, and with Red Bull Powertrains being closely tied to Honda, especially with the Japanese Grand Prix approaching that week, there were undoubtedly more factors involved than just Liam Lawson's difficult start.

Proving a Point: Still in the Coveted Seat

But my point is this: Liam Lawson has gotten in the car and gotten on with his job. 

He’s still in Formula 1®; he’s still in one of the highly coveted F1® seats, of which there are only 20, and he's got a point to prove. When you're a young, energetic, and enthusiastic man, you thrive on proving these points. But has he done so?

When I look at head-to-head statistics over the last few years, it’s probably unfair because Yuki Tsunoda is a very talented, well-bedded-in Formula 1® as a race driver. 

Even based purely on statistics, you would back Yuki. He has 101 career points from 97 Grand Prix entries, with a best finish of 4th. 

Liam Lawson, in contrast, has 10 career points from 21 Grand Prix entries, with a best finish of 8th. But I back Liam as he is doing well and driving to prove a point!

However, in the spirit of Red Bull, in the spirit of their junior teams, their apprenticeship program coming up from karting into Formula 3, then Formula 2, then Formula 1® – choosing a young driver has often proven to be a brilliant idea. 

Sir Ron Dennis and McLaren initiated this trend many years ago by signing Sir Lewis Hamilton as a young karting driver, and it certainly paid off for Dennis, setting the path for junior programs to be more deeply embedded in Formula 1®, which they are today. 

We certainly have Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, and Ron Dennis to thank for that.

The Second Half of the Season is Lawson's Opportunity

So, looking at some of the statistics out there, head-to-head with Yuki Tsunoda, Yuki is in the better car, and he is currently edging Liam Lawson. But it’s the second half of the season. 

Lawson needs to get his head down, get stuck in, and prove that he’s there for the next 10 to 15 years as a race driver. His chance will come again.

And while Yuki Tsunoda has not exactly set the world alight with his overall performance in the Red Bull Racing car, Liam Lawson can take some enthusiasm from this: Yuki didn't jump into that cockpit and annihilate Liam Lawson's previous stats. 

It's safe to say that Yuki has only just kept his head above water. While Liam is probably enthusiastic about wanting to go head-to-head with Yuki Tsunoda, he may not have the absolute best package right now. But if he keeps his footing, he maintains his enthusiasm, his concentration, and his focus, he absolutely could catch him and prove a point to Christian Horner and the team: that was his seat, and he wants it back.

And while this battle is going on between the two drivers, Liam Lawson is doing a great job and will be in Formula One® for a long time to come!

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!