September 28, 2024 • 9 mins
Liam Lawson's been given the chance of a lifetime - and the pressure is on for him to prove himself in Formula One.
The Kiwi driver's been promoted to the Racing Bulls team for the rest of the season.
Motorsport expert Eric Thompson joined Piney to discuss what this means for Lawson.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from newstalk edb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Liam Lawson is going to replace Daniel Ricardo at the
Racing Balls Formula one team.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I'd tell you what, He's still going to try and
make this move stick as well. Leclaire drifts out and
to the wide right hand side. Lawson slot's right backings
behind him. He's got trs. He's coming down the inside.
Liam Lawson and is f one TV for Alfatari gets
past charl Leclair and he is up. It's a fifteenth place,
but this boy has got an awful lot of potential.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
He'll read Ball obviously agree because Liam Lawsmore race alongside
Yukus SONODA for the rest of the twenty twenty four
season that includes nine races at six venues, six four
Grand Prix and three sprints. He steps up from his
reserve role which he's held since twenty twenty two, and
we'll race for the first time this year anyway at
(01:00):
the United States Grand Prix in Austin in three weeks
from now. Motor Sport writer and analyst Eric Thomson and
joins us to unpack this. Eric, this felt like it
was coming. It had been widely reported that this was
on the cards, but how significant is it now that
it is one hundred percent confirmed for Liam Lawson?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
I think for Liam's perspective, his mum and dad, you know,
his management team, and you know all the people that
have supported him and backed him, and you know Rode
in Cars amongst them all, I think it's a great
relief that they can actually stand up now, Pinty and
actually go, yes, the contract has been signed. We're locked
(01:40):
and loaded till the end of the year. And now
it's basically everything is in Liam's court now. You know,
he and the team have got him there. He signed
the contract, red ball of gone. Yep, we've got faith
in you. You did a great job last year. I mean, god,
he got in the points last year and so this
is him. It's up to him now to actually make
(02:01):
the most of this opportunity to make sure that he
gets a p imminent seat for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
For a guy who's used to going at high speed,
how challenging would it have been for him to be
a bit patient around this.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Ah.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
There's one thing that some people who have asked me
in the past about, you know, what do you think
Set's Liam laws some above others. It's his steely reserve.
And also he's incredibly analytic and doesn't make rash decision.
But he's also quite honest and self aware. If we
remember from last year based funny enough at the Singapore
Grand Prix, when it was announced that he would not
(02:37):
be getting the drive, he basically came out and said, hey,
I can't quite figure this out. I'm quick air and
out qualified the other drive in the team, and yet
he gets signed up. I'm a little bit puzzled. So
you know that raw emotion means he's not a machine,
but it's also he sat back and thought, okay, you
know I've got off as I've got this, but I
(02:58):
look at my long term future like he's really quite
analytical and he's got good support of course pinting, but
it's that analytical look at it. What long term would
be my best option? Do I go to a struggling
team like a hass or somebody like that that maybe
don't have the drive and the pedigree that Red Bull have.
And he just hung in there and basically you know
(03:19):
they've come good. They said, right here we go, here's
your opportunity. That's up to you now.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So this is for the remainder of twenty twenty four.
As I mentioned, what will he have to do to
make sure that he retains that seat in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Out qualify and finish in front of Sonoda, his teammate.
It's like in anything anything where you've got teammates, especially
in motorsport, the very first person you want to be
regardless of what the drivers say, how will they get
on with their teammates and how they have fun afterwards
and stuff like that, you want to beat your teammate,
buying without a shadow of doubt, to prove that you
(03:57):
are the one that they should continue and vesting in.
So that's his thing. And also to keep the car clean,
don't break it, bend it, don't cause it, you know,
added financial grief for teams, bring it home straight. But
also even if he can't outqualify Snardo, it's to finish
in front of him, all right.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
So this is Red Bull Racing's second team. Effectively, Max
for Stappen Sergio Pierre is the top combo at the moment.
Is there any circumstances under which Liam could replace Peers
in twenty twenty five if laws And races well for
the rest of twenty twenty four, is that a possible.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Outcome, Absolutely, and I think Helmut Mark and even Christian
Horner you know, had come to agree that for the future,
so you know, for somebody with Max's you know, as
you know, if the staff and stays in the sport,
even if he doesn't to invest in, Lawson does really
well and in the rest of the season, he'll be
setting himself up for a box seat drive for the
(04:54):
main Red Bull Racing team, you know, either alongside Max
for Stappen, and if Max does decide he's had enough
because he's not allowed to swear anymore or anything like that,
which is a joke, that is, But anyway, other discussion, pointy,
But the thing is, if you know, here's the future
either way for that team, and that's what they're sort
of looking at and investing in, is to think Max
(05:15):
will need a teammate because I doubt that Perez will
be signed up for next year. So you know, there's
a vacant seat there. There's a couple of other juniors
floating around, but Lawson could move into that seat, and
I actually truly think that's their plan. Red Bull is
to get them into the main seat and then to
get another youngster that they've got on the wings into
(05:37):
the junior team, shall we call it.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I've heard a suggested that Liam could have replaced Perez
straight away in the top team. That would have left
Daniel Ricardo retaining his place alongside Sanoa. Did they ever
feel like that could be an option for them?
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Not before Mexico, because you know, you know, Mexican driver
in Mexico, big, big country, loads of people, you know,
and to raise the awareness to Red Bull, you know,
purely from a commercial point of view, you want in Mexico.
So potentially he might have been dropped after Mexico, but
(06:12):
it was always going to be after Mexico. And then
that doesn't really leave enough time for the Red Bull
management to actually have a look at Lawson to see whether,
you know, he has that consistency they're looking, you know,
they're looking for. But I don't think unless Perez does
something magical for the rest of the season, I can't
see him there next year.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
All right, we wait and see. This doesn't seem to
have been handled particularly well by Red Bull. Liam said
he knew a couple of weeks ago. Daniel Ricardo said
he only found out officially after the Singapore grom pleay
last week. Everybody seemed to know that this was happening.
What did you make of the process?
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Oh, it's a typical Red Bull. They are ruthless. I mean,
their PR team is very good. To think that they
support juniors. They're really good with the juniors and you know,
they support them and they bring them up through. But
basically the juniors have to pay. Yeah, Lawson would have
been on peanuts as a reserve driver. You know, I think,
you know, you'll be on a decent whack map compared
(07:07):
to the rest of us. But that's just the way
they are. They're just a meat factory. They just grind
people out. You look at Devrees, you got the archer.
You look at Brendan Hartley, you know, only lasted one season,
Pierre Gasly Albina, you know all these guys, they just
if you do not perform instantly, they have no interest.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
What's the danger then, of Liam Lawson being chewed up
and sped out by Red Bull.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
But you know, personally, I think he's got the mental
fortitude not to and he's proven. I mean, if you
think He's everywhere he's raced so far, including tintops and
the DTM. He's podiumed or won a race. He nearly
won the Japanese super Formula Championship. He's mentally really strong
and he'll know this is an opportunity, but he's really measured.
(08:00):
You remember watching him and some of the listeners watching
him after he's at Van vor in an abhouring rain.
Never been to the circuit before abysmal conditions. I think
he finished thirteenth in his first race, and then you know,
getting into the points, he will go about this knowing
(08:21):
you can't let the red mist and the burst circle
rage or the dominant or go flat out things. Yeah. Been,
he's been around for too long and he's got some
really good people that have mentored him Piney through this
whole journey. He has the right mental fortitude, and he's quick.
Everybody knows he's quick. He's proven he's quick in his cart.
(08:41):
So it's a it's all lining up quite nicely.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, that's a really good summary, Eric, Great to get
your analysis. As always, where await with interest. The United
States Grand Prix in about three weeks time, and and
the rest of twenty twenty four and to see what
twenty twenty five holds. Always great to chat.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Mate, Thanks Pony, always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Good on you, mate. That's Eric Thompson, motorsport analyst, journalist, reporter, observer,
pretty astute observer too.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from newstalk edb.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Liam Lawson is going to replace Daniel Ricardo at the
Racing Balls Formula one team.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
I'd tell you what, He's still going to try and
make this move stick as well. Leclaire drifts out and
to the wide right hand side. Lawson slot's right backings
behind him. He's got trs. He's coming down the inside.
Liam Lawson and is f one TV for Alfatari gets
past charl Leclair and he is up. It's a fifteenth place,
but this boy has got an awful lot of potential.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
He'll read Ball obviously agree because Liam Lawsmore race alongside
Yukus SONODA for the rest of the twenty twenty four
season that includes nine races at six venues, six four
Grand Prix and three sprints. He steps up from his
reserve role which he's held since twenty twenty two, and
we'll race for the first time this year anyway at
(01:00):
the United States Grand Prix in Austin in three weeks
from now. Motor Sport writer and analyst Eric Thomson and
joins us to unpack this. Eric, this felt like it
was coming. It had been widely reported that this was
on the cards, but how significant is it now that
it is one hundred percent confirmed for Liam Lawson?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
I think for Liam's perspective, his mum and dad, you know,
his management team, and you know all the people that
have supported him and backed him, and you know Rode
in Cars amongst them all, I think it's a great
relief that they can actually stand up now, Pinty and
actually go, yes, the contract has been signed. We're locked
(01:40):
and loaded till the end of the year. And now
it's basically everything is in Liam's court now. You know,
he and the team have got him there. He signed
the contract, red ball of gone. Yep, we've got faith
in you. You did a great job last year. I mean, god,
he got in the points last year and so this
is him. It's up to him now to actually make
(02:01):
the most of this opportunity to make sure that he
gets a p imminent seat for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
For a guy who's used to going at high speed,
how challenging would it have been for him to be
a bit patient around this.
Speaker 5 (02:15):
Ah.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
There's one thing that some people who have asked me
in the past about, you know, what do you think
Set's Liam laws some above others. It's his steely reserve.
And also he's incredibly analytic and doesn't make rash decision.
But he's also quite honest and self aware. If we
remember from last year based funny enough at the Singapore
Grand Prix, when it was announced that he would not
(02:37):
be getting the drive, he basically came out and said, hey,
I can't quite figure this out. I'm quick air and
out qualified the other drive in the team, and yet
he gets signed up. I'm a little bit puzzled. So
you know that raw emotion means he's not a machine,
but it's also he sat back and thought, okay, you
know I've got off as I've got this, but I
(02:58):
look at my long term future like he's really quite
analytical and he's got good support of course pinting, but
it's that analytical look at it. What long term would
be my best option? Do I go to a struggling
team like a hass or somebody like that that maybe
don't have the drive and the pedigree that Red Bull have.
And he just hung in there and basically you know
(03:19):
they've come good. They said, right here we go, here's
your opportunity. That's up to you now.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
So this is for the remainder of twenty twenty four.
As I mentioned, what will he have to do to
make sure that he retains that seat in twenty twenty five?
Speaker 4 (03:35):
Out qualify and finish in front of Sonoda, his teammate.
It's like in anything anything where you've got teammates, especially
in motorsport, the very first person you want to be
regardless of what the drivers say, how will they get
on with their teammates and how they have fun afterwards
and stuff like that, you want to beat your teammate,
buying without a shadow of doubt, to prove that you
(03:57):
are the one that they should continue and vesting in.
So that's his thing. And also to keep the car clean,
don't break it, bend it, don't cause it, you know,
added financial grief for teams, bring it home straight. But
also even if he can't outqualify Snardo, it's to finish
in front of him, all right.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
So this is Red Bull Racing's second team. Effectively, Max
for Stappen Sergio Pierre is the top combo at the moment.
Is there any circumstances under which Liam could replace Peers
in twenty twenty five if laws And races well for
the rest of twenty twenty four, is that a possible.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Outcome, Absolutely, and I think Helmut Mark and even Christian
Horner you know, had come to agree that for the future,
so you know, for somebody with Max's you know, as
you know, if the staff and stays in the sport,
even if he doesn't to invest in, Lawson does really
well and in the rest of the season, he'll be
setting himself up for a box seat drive for the
(04:54):
main Red Bull Racing team, you know, either alongside Max
for Stappen, and if Max does decide he's had enough
because he's not allowed to swear anymore or anything like that,
which is a joke, that is, But anyway, other discussion, pointy,
But the thing is, if you know, here's the future
either way for that team, and that's what they're sort
of looking at and investing in, is to think Max
(05:15):
will need a teammate because I doubt that Perez will
be signed up for next year. So you know, there's
a vacant seat there. There's a couple of other juniors
floating around, but Lawson could move into that seat, and
I actually truly think that's their plan. Red Bull is
to get them into the main seat and then to
get another youngster that they've got on the wings into
(05:37):
the junior team, shall we call it.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I've heard a suggested that Liam could have replaced Perez
straight away in the top team. That would have left
Daniel Ricardo retaining his place alongside Sanoa. Did they ever
feel like that could be an option for them?
Speaker 5 (05:51):
Not before Mexico, because you know, you know, Mexican driver
in Mexico, big, big country, loads of people, you know,
and to raise the awareness to Red Bull, you know,
purely from a commercial point of view, you want in Mexico.
So potentially he might have been dropped after Mexico, but
(06:12):
it was always going to be after Mexico. And then
that doesn't really leave enough time for the Red Bull
management to actually have a look at Lawson to see whether,
you know, he has that consistency they're looking, you know,
they're looking for. But I don't think unless Perez does
something magical for the rest of the season, I can't
see him there next year.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
All right, we wait and see. This doesn't seem to
have been handled particularly well by Red Bull. Liam said
he knew a couple of weeks ago. Daniel Ricardo said
he only found out officially after the Singapore grom pleay
last week. Everybody seemed to know that this was happening.
What did you make of the process?
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Oh, it's a typical Red Bull. They are ruthless. I mean,
their PR team is very good. To think that they
support juniors. They're really good with the juniors and you know,
they support them and they bring them up through. But
basically the juniors have to pay. Yeah, Lawson would have
been on peanuts as a reserve driver. You know, I think,
you know, you'll be on a decent whack map compared
(07:07):
to the rest of us. But that's just the way
they are. They're just a meat factory. They just grind
people out. You look at Devrees, you got the archer.
You look at Brendan Hartley, you know, only lasted one season,
Pierre Gasly Albina, you know all these guys, they just
if you do not perform instantly, they have no interest.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
What's the danger then, of Liam Lawson being chewed up
and sped out by Red Bull.
Speaker 4 (07:37):
But you know, personally, I think he's got the mental
fortitude not to and he's proven. I mean, if you
think He's everywhere he's raced so far, including tintops and
the DTM. He's podiumed or won a race. He nearly
won the Japanese super Formula Championship. He's mentally really strong
and he'll know this is an opportunity, but he's really measured.
(08:00):
You remember watching him and some of the listeners watching
him after he's at Van vor in an abhouring rain.
Never been to the circuit before abysmal conditions. I think
he finished thirteenth in his first race, and then you know,
getting into the points, he will go about this knowing
(08:21):
you can't let the red mist and the burst circle
rage or the dominant or go flat out things. Yeah. Been,
he's been around for too long and he's got some
really good people that have mentored him Piney through this
whole journey. He has the right mental fortitude, and he's quick.
Everybody knows he's quick. He's proven he's quick in his cart.
(08:41):
So it's a it's all lining up quite nicely.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, that's a really good summary, Eric, Great to get
your analysis. As always, where await with interest. The United
States Grand Prix in about three weeks time, and and
the rest of twenty twenty four and to see what
twenty twenty five holds. Always great to chat.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
Mate, Thanks Pony, always a pleasure.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Good on you, mate. That's Eric Thompson, motorsport analyst, journalist, reporter, observer,
pretty astute observer too.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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