March 14, 2025 • 10 mins
The final Formula 1 practice session is under way.
Liam Lawson had a bit of a rough start to his first day as a fulltime driver, finishing 16th and 17th in his first two practices at Albert Park.
As we count down to Lawson’s official full-time debut for Red Bull, Piney catches up with other Kiwi motorsport icons for a chat about his achievement.
Former Supercars driver Greg Murphy offers his thoughts on Lawson and his hopes for the young star.
“Liam's had some amazing support to get there, but he's delivered and repaid all that support,” he told Piney.
“Now he's there at the top.”
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk z'b Guy, Sport.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
One and Freedom Wear on Sky Open from just before
five o'clock tomorrow. One of our motorsport greats, Greg Murphy,
is with us. Greg I said before, when I was
talking to Bob McMurray, I remember hearing you say last
year that Liam rising to the heights he has wasn't
a surprise to you. You always thought he was capable
(00:34):
of this. In fact, you were on record as saying
he could reach Formula one four or five years ago.
I remember you saying it. What were the qualities you
observed in Liam all the way back then that formed
that view that made you think he could get to
where he's got to.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
It's just his ability to do things in a race
car that were, you know, much a lot higher above
average than most people. You know, every time he drove
a car, no matter what it was, he would excel
and maximize those opportunities. And that's that's, you know, something
(01:11):
that not everyone has the ability to do. So he
used to stand out. He used to make, you know,
make statements every time he drove a car, and you know,
and no matter what it was. I mean, he's got
this inate ability to win on debut and new formulas,
and again that's just is something that highlights the X
(01:31):
factor that the young man has. So you know, based
on the last two seasons, you know, filling in for
Daniel Riccardo or replacing him last year and filling in
for him the year before twenty twenty three proved he
was ready for Formula one and twenty twenty three and
it's taken un till now for him to get that
full time seat. So you know, he's one of these
standout young men, young drivers that have that little bit
(01:55):
special extra that sit them apart from the rest.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Before we look ahead to the weekend and in fact
to the year ahead. Can you put into context for
us the significance of having a keyway and a full
on this one seat.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, it's difficult. I mean, I just don't think it's
recognized enough by those that don't fool noticeable on what
kind of achievement this is. And I've been harping on
about this for a long time, the achievements of Chemi
drivers on the international stage at the highest highest level.
And I suppose you know, if one is the pinnacle
form of the sport, absolute pinnacourts, whatever every young aspiring
(02:30):
driver dreams to be. And if one driver, this is
a world championship, twenty four races around the world. If
one World Championship has been going for decades and decades
and decades, and we've had people like you know, Denny
Holm and Chris Aymon and Bruce McLaren and Moore, Brendan
Hartley the latest who have actually been in a full
time seat in Formula One. You know, we've had had
(02:52):
drivers do it in the past, but this is you know,
a new era, a very different era, and a very difficult,
challenging era. The money that has spent to get into
Formula One, the competition that US as a tiny little
nation are up against to get someone in there, you know,
against against these European countries with just just endless, endless
(03:13):
amounts of money to actually be able to put you know,
behind people to to get to the top. Chelan and
so you know, Liam's had some mating support to get there,
but he has delivered and repaid all that support and
you know, massively, and now he's now he's there at
the top. So you know, we need to really recognize
(03:33):
the significance of this, the sporting achievement, even if you're
a Formula one fan or not.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, very well put, very well put. All right, So
what would a successful opening we can first of all
look like for Liam?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Oh, that's that's not actually an easy question to answer.
I mean, finishing, it's going to be a good one.
And I would say wherever Max for Stefan is being
being right on the heels of Max for Stefan, and
I think that's all that. I don't think he wants
anything less than that, you know, it's it's it's about basic.
(04:06):
He's in this role, his job is to win, right
and regardless of where Red Bull see that, which is
you know, they will be seeing him supporting Max probably,
but they will also be giving him everything he possibly
can to perform it his best. So for Liam, success
would be winning, uh, you know, at the end of
the day. But you know, at the end of the
weekend when we look back on it and we will
(04:29):
talk about it, you know, next week in detail, you know,
then we'll decide if it's you know, what he has
done is successful or not. But it's it's such a
challenging game I mean Red Bull are talking down their
car a little bit at the moment. I was watching
the TV last night, the preview that Sky Sports were doing,
(04:50):
and you know they're talking down the Red Bull a
little bit. They're talking about McLaren being the you know,
the fastest car out there. You know, Red Bull's going
to be there or thereabouts, but where exactly, we won't
know until Saturday qualifying on where they all stack up.
But you know his goal will be to be right
up the front. He wants to be right there with Max,
(05:11):
if not ahead of him. So it's a little bit
challenging at the moment to give that answer, but you know,
finishing is going to be good. A podium would be.
It's incredible and I think it's achievable. I really do so.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I've seen it reported Greg, and I'm sure you've seen
these reports as well. Red Bull want Liam to stay
within three tenths of a second of Max for staffing.
But from what you're saying there, you think that's uughly achievable.
Is that realistic?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Absolutely? Absolutely, I think that's very achievable. That that's the
quality of this young man and his work your section,
and that's why they've given him the shot, so you
know they're saying that, so that for them would be success.
I probably definitely him, you know, wanted to obviously, you know,
try and look at it from a broader in rather
(05:56):
than just his absolute dead set passion and desire for
what he wants to achieve. That would probably be a
successful weekend. But I just think he's capable of being
close the man. And you know, yeah, at the end
of the day, the competition is is bigger, faster, stronger
than then. We've hadn't it in quite a while. So
(06:18):
you know, he's picked a very tough time to come
into it, but that that's what he's all about. He
wants challenges. He doesn't want it easy. He wants to
wants to fight for it and prove that he's better
than everybody else.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
How much will team orders affect the way that Liam drives,
is able to drive. How much will he have to
follow rebel instructions and realize he's number two to the
step him?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, that will come. I don't think that's on the
table anyway at the moment. You know, there's it's very
early as twenty four races this year, and they'll they'll
they'll likely hope, hope that comes a time because if
if that's if that's coming into effect, well that means
that he's doing his job so and doing it very
very well. So it's right now at the moment, I mean,
(07:01):
if if Liam qualified third tomorrow and Max qualified ten,
here's not going to be any team orders in play.
You know, that will come much much later in the season.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
How do you assess Leam's ability to adjust to what
will be a hugely increased spotlight because he's now part
of what is a massive, massive Formula One road show.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
He's been dealing with it now for a couple of seasons.
I mean, Netflix has been hounding him. He's been he's
been right in the thick of it with the whole
Daniel Ricardo situation. So the spotlight has been on him.
You know, he is now a star, He's a superstar,
and he really what he really was starting to grow
into that space, you know a couple of years ago,
you know, with with all the talk and the chat
(07:43):
around what he was, you know, what he was touted
for and the conversations around and replacing Chico last year,
Assujio Carez last year. You know, and then and then
he was thrust into it with a quite badly handled
situation with Red Bull last year when the chat around
Daniel Riccardo started to come that he was going to
get replaced, and then when it did happen was announced
(08:04):
at Singapore, it was it was hand very very badly.
And you know, he was attacked a little bit from
what I gather by all the keyboard warriors, and so
you've got to handle all that stuff and manage it.
And I think he does that, you know, very very well.
And that's part of why he is what he is
and why he is so successful so far, and because
he manages the mental side of it and is able
(08:26):
to compartmentalize those things and put them to one side.
And you've got to have that mental strength in this game.
So you don't have the mental strengths, you are going
to struggle.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Just to finish. Can you somehow put us in that
driver's seat on the starting grid on Sunday as he
gets ready to go. I know he's done it before, Greg,
but this is different. Isn't it a full time drive?
Race one of twenty twenty five? Do you think he'll
be nervous? Excited? What will the emotions, the overriding ones
be probably all of those things.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I would say, I meant I can't put you in
that seat, because I mean the level that I've competed
at in the past, it doesn't come close. Really. I
don't think it's all relative, of course, but this is
the the highest actional on the pinnacle of motorsport. The
eyes that will be watching will be enormous. The judgments
from from those that deserve to have that option to judge,
(09:18):
and certainly most of the people that don't. You know,
it's putting all that aside and actually and actually celebrating
you know, this as well for him, So hopefully he
can enjoy it and actually take the moment in and
and and use that as well as as a bit
of a force. But yeah, listen, you everyone's got to
be a little anxious, you know. But it's also about
(09:38):
the opportunity of the excitement of of of what it
all means. So you know, he's ready for it. He's absolute,
one hundred percent ready for The performances that we've seen
him in the the B car over the last two
seasons are just you know, phenomenal, and he's he doesn't
care about who he's racing against. He doesn't care about
Lewis Hamilton, Maxis Staff and all those guys and what
they've done and their achievements and who they are, but
(10:01):
just race card drivers to him, and that's the way
you've got to look at it.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
What an exciting week hand ahead of us. Thanks so
much for joining us, Greg and the lead up. We
look forward to seeing how it plays out in Melbourne
and across twenty twenty five as well. Thanks for your time, mate,
brilliant Thanks mate, no, thank you, Greg. Greg Murphy. There
part of Sky's coverage of the Australian Formula One Grand
Prix and in fact the entire Formula One season.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk z'b Guy, Sport.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
One and Freedom Wear on Sky Open from just before
five o'clock tomorrow. One of our motorsport greats, Greg Murphy,
is with us. Greg I said before, when I was
talking to Bob McMurray, I remember hearing you say last
year that Liam rising to the heights he has wasn't
a surprise to you. You always thought he was capable
(00:34):
of this. In fact, you were on record as saying
he could reach Formula one four or five years ago.
I remember you saying it. What were the qualities you
observed in Liam all the way back then that formed
that view that made you think he could get to
where he's got to.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
It's just his ability to do things in a race
car that were, you know, much a lot higher above
average than most people. You know, every time he drove
a car, no matter what it was, he would excel
and maximize those opportunities. And that's that's, you know, something
(01:11):
that not everyone has the ability to do. So he
used to stand out. He used to make, you know,
make statements every time he drove a car, and you know,
and no matter what it was. I mean, he's got
this inate ability to win on debut and new formulas,
and again that's just is something that highlights the X
(01:31):
factor that the young man has. So you know, based
on the last two seasons, you know, filling in for
Daniel Riccardo or replacing him last year and filling in
for him the year before twenty twenty three proved he
was ready for Formula one and twenty twenty three and
it's taken un till now for him to get that
full time seat. So you know, he's one of these
standout young men, young drivers that have that little bit
(01:55):
special extra that sit them apart from the rest.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
Before we look ahead to the weekend and in fact
to the year ahead. Can you put into context for
us the significance of having a keyway and a full
on this one seat.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yeah, it's difficult. I mean, I just don't think it's
recognized enough by those that don't fool noticeable on what
kind of achievement this is. And I've been harping on
about this for a long time, the achievements of Chemi
drivers on the international stage at the highest highest level.
And I suppose you know, if one is the pinnacle
form of the sport, absolute pinnacourts, whatever every young aspiring
(02:30):
driver dreams to be. And if one driver, this is
a world championship, twenty four races around the world. If
one World Championship has been going for decades and decades
and decades, and we've had people like you know, Denny
Holm and Chris Aymon and Bruce McLaren and Moore, Brendan
Hartley the latest who have actually been in a full
time seat in Formula One. You know, we've had had
(02:52):
drivers do it in the past, but this is you know,
a new era, a very different era, and a very difficult,
challenging era. The money that has spent to get into
Formula One, the competition that US as a tiny little
nation are up against to get someone in there, you know,
against against these European countries with just just endless, endless
(03:13):
amounts of money to actually be able to put you know,
behind people to to get to the top. Chelan and
so you know, Liam's had some mating support to get there,
but he has delivered and repaid all that support and
you know, massively, and now he's now he's there at
the top. So you know, we need to really recognize
(03:33):
the significance of this, the sporting achievement, even if you're
a Formula one fan or not.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Yeah, very well put, very well put. All right, So
what would a successful opening we can first of all
look like for Liam?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
Oh, that's that's not actually an easy question to answer.
I mean, finishing, it's going to be a good one.
And I would say wherever Max for Stefan is being
being right on the heels of Max for Stefan, and
I think that's all that. I don't think he wants
anything less than that, you know, it's it's it's about basic.
(04:06):
He's in this role, his job is to win, right
and regardless of where Red Bull see that, which is
you know, they will be seeing him supporting Max probably,
but they will also be giving him everything he possibly
can to perform it his best. So for Liam, success
would be winning, uh, you know, at the end of
the day. But you know, at the end of the
weekend when we look back on it and we will
(04:29):
talk about it, you know, next week in detail, you know,
then we'll decide if it's you know, what he has
done is successful or not. But it's it's such a
challenging game I mean Red Bull are talking down their
car a little bit at the moment. I was watching
the TV last night, the preview that Sky Sports were doing,
(04:50):
and you know they're talking down the Red Bull a
little bit. They're talking about McLaren being the you know,
the fastest car out there. You know, Red Bull's going
to be there or thereabouts, but where exactly, we won't
know until Saturday qualifying on where they all stack up.
But you know his goal will be to be right
up the front. He wants to be right there with Max,
(05:11):
if not ahead of him. So it's a little bit
challenging at the moment to give that answer, but you know,
finishing is going to be good. A podium would be.
It's incredible and I think it's achievable. I really do so.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
I've seen it reported Greg, and I'm sure you've seen
these reports as well. Red Bull want Liam to stay
within three tenths of a second of Max for staffing.
But from what you're saying there, you think that's uughly achievable.
Is that realistic?
Speaker 3 (05:34):
Absolutely? Absolutely, I think that's very achievable. That that's the
quality of this young man and his work your section,
and that's why they've given him the shot, so you
know they're saying that, so that for them would be success.
I probably definitely him, you know, wanted to obviously, you know,
try and look at it from a broader in rather
(05:56):
than just his absolute dead set passion and desire for
what he wants to achieve. That would probably be a
successful weekend. But I just think he's capable of being
close the man. And you know, yeah, at the end
of the day, the competition is is bigger, faster, stronger
than then. We've hadn't it in quite a while. So
(06:18):
you know, he's picked a very tough time to come
into it, but that that's what he's all about. He
wants challenges. He doesn't want it easy. He wants to
wants to fight for it and prove that he's better
than everybody else.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
How much will team orders affect the way that Liam drives,
is able to drive. How much will he have to
follow rebel instructions and realize he's number two to the
step him?
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Well, that will come. I don't think that's on the
table anyway at the moment. You know, there's it's very
early as twenty four races this year, and they'll they'll
they'll likely hope, hope that comes a time because if
if that's if that's coming into effect, well that means
that he's doing his job so and doing it very
very well. So it's right now at the moment, I mean,
(07:01):
if if Liam qualified third tomorrow and Max qualified ten,
here's not going to be any team orders in play.
You know, that will come much much later in the season.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
How do you assess Leam's ability to adjust to what
will be a hugely increased spotlight because he's now part
of what is a massive, massive Formula One road show.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
He's been dealing with it now for a couple of seasons.
I mean, Netflix has been hounding him. He's been he's
been right in the thick of it with the whole
Daniel Ricardo situation. So the spotlight has been on him.
You know, he is now a star, He's a superstar,
and he really what he really was starting to grow
into that space, you know a couple of years ago,
you know, with with all the talk and the chat
(07:43):
around what he was, you know, what he was touted
for and the conversations around and replacing Chico last year,
Assujio Carez last year. You know, and then and then
he was thrust into it with a quite badly handled
situation with Red Bull last year when the chat around
Daniel Riccardo started to come that he was going to
get replaced, and then when it did happen was announced
(08:04):
at Singapore, it was it was hand very very badly.
And you know, he was attacked a little bit from
what I gather by all the keyboard warriors, and so
you've got to handle all that stuff and manage it.
And I think he does that, you know, very very well.
And that's part of why he is what he is
and why he is so successful so far, and because
he manages the mental side of it and is able
(08:26):
to compartmentalize those things and put them to one side.
And you've got to have that mental strength in this game.
So you don't have the mental strengths, you are going
to struggle.
Speaker 2 (08:35):
Just to finish. Can you somehow put us in that
driver's seat on the starting grid on Sunday as he
gets ready to go. I know he's done it before, Greg,
but this is different. Isn't it a full time drive?
Race one of twenty twenty five? Do you think he'll
be nervous? Excited? What will the emotions, the overriding ones
be probably all of those things.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
I would say, I meant I can't put you in
that seat, because I mean the level that I've competed
at in the past, it doesn't come close. Really. I
don't think it's all relative, of course, but this is
the the highest actional on the pinnacle of motorsport. The
eyes that will be watching will be enormous. The judgments
from from those that deserve to have that option to judge,
(09:18):
and certainly most of the people that don't. You know,
it's putting all that aside and actually and actually celebrating
you know, this as well for him, So hopefully he
can enjoy it and actually take the moment in and
and and use that as well as as a bit
of a force. But yeah, listen, you everyone's got to
be a little anxious, you know. But it's also about
(09:38):
the opportunity of the excitement of of of what it
all means. So you know, he's ready for it. He's absolute,
one hundred percent ready for The performances that we've seen
him in the the B car over the last two
seasons are just you know, phenomenal, and he's he doesn't
care about who he's racing against. He doesn't care about
Lewis Hamilton, Maxis Staff and all those guys and what
they've done and their achievements and who they are, but
(10:01):
just race card drivers to him, and that's the way
you've got to look at it.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
What an exciting week hand ahead of us. Thanks so
much for joining us, Greg and the lead up. We
look forward to seeing how it plays out in Melbourne
and across twenty twenty five as well. Thanks for your time, mate,
brilliant Thanks mate, no, thank you, Greg. Greg Murphy. There
part of Sky's coverage of the Australian Formula One Grand
Prix and in fact the entire Formula One season.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk st B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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