Liam Lawson is preparing for the challenge that lies ahead of him when he steps into the RB car for the remaining six rounds of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
It was announced after the Singapore Grand Prix that Daniel Ricciardo would be leaving the team effective immediately, with Lawson stepping in.
The 22-year-old replaced the Australian for a few races midway through the 2023 F1 season with Alpha Tauri, after Ricciardo suffered an injury to his hand.
Once again, Lawson will replace the eight-time grand prix winner but this time with the chance to secure a full-time seat on the grid for the 2025 season.
With Red Bull and Helmut Marko observing his progress, Lawson is set for a daunting audition with six races remaining in the 2024 season.
Speaking to New Zealand’s Newstalk ZB about the opportunity he has been given, he expressed: “It’s six rounds left of the season, so I’ve come in at a, you know, difficult time.
“It’s going to be a very challenging point. Obviously, all these guys have done three quarters of a season now, so I have to try and compete with that now at tracks that I haven’t done as well.
Lawson admits that he needs ‘to perform’ at RB
Lawson impressed in the five races he competed in during the 2023 F1 season, including that year’s Singapore Grand Prix.
He outqualified Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to knock him out in the second session of qualifying and send him into the final session.
The New Zealander also managed to finish inside the points in the race with a ninth-place finish to score two points for the sister Red Bull team.
With that performance in mind, Lawson added: “I need to perform. Basically, I need to try and obviously show my worth in F1 and, I would say do a similar job to what I did last year.
“What’s given me the shot now is what happened last year.”
RB is in a healthy position in the Constructors’ Championship, lying in sixth place on 34 points and ahead of their midfield rivals Haas.
Before Lawson could race at the United States Grand Prix, Ricciardo recovered from his injury to return for last year’s race in Austin.
This year, he will get the chance to race in Texas to try prove his worth to the Red Bull family and secure his future in the sport.
READ MORE: Liam Lawson reveals when he was told he would replace Daniel Ricciardo at RB
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