Barrie Thomlinson: Founder of Toyota Racing Series on Liam Lawson making it into the Red Bull team

Liam Lawson has been promoted into Red Bull's senior team in Formula One. He'll race alongside Max Verstappen next season after Red Bull parted ways with Sergio Perez. 

Founder of the Toyota Racing Series Barrie Thomlinson says Red Bull will have chosen Lawson based on his future talent. 

Thomlison says if Lawson performs at a high level, he will likely be the person to replace Max Verstappen. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Liam Lawson has been promoted into Red Bull's senior team
in Formula One. He'll race alongside Max for Staff in
next season. After Red Bull parted ways with Sergio Perez,
the shareholders agreed to promote Lawson in his place ahead
of teammate Euko Sonoda. Before he was picked up by
Red Bull, Liam raced in the Toyota Racing Series in

(00:20):
New Zealand and Barry Tomlinson founded the Toyota Racing Series.
He's now with NZ one Race Management and he's with
us this afternoon.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Get a Barry. Hi, Ryan, Merry Christmas to you.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Merry Christmas. Great to have you on the show. And
what great news going into the silly season.

Speaker 3 (00:36):
Yeah, fantastic news. Obviously it's been a long time coming Ryan,
you're probably the worst kept secret really, but yeah, look
to eventually come through. It's great news for New Zealand
and for motorsport here and all his fans and his
supporters here in New Zealand that have put a huge
effort in behind Liam, including his family who have sacrificed

(00:58):
so much to get him to this stage. And you know,
it's it's a huge cutos to them all all.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
Why why do you think Red Bull picked him over
Sonoda because Snoda does have more experience, right.

Speaker 3 (01:12):
Yes, So Yuki's been in Formula one now for four seasons,
so I think, you know, in the end, really that
counts against Yuki because Liam came in.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
You know, he's done I think what seven grand Prix's
maybe a little more than that.

Speaker 3 (01:25):
And this year he's done a great job in this
very short time that he's been there. He's matched Yuki,
you know on his results. Yeah, Yuki's been you know,
slightly ahead and qualifying. But you know, for Liam to
come in and to do what he's done, you know,
I think that that's what has got Liam across the line.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
And plus a all the work that he's.

Speaker 3 (01:47):
Done in the background with Red Bull sitting in the
simulator and all the testing that he's done. You know,
they've evaluated both drivers, and believe me, they will have
picked Liam purely on his future talent.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, it's the potential buzz, isn't it, Because he's he's
basically as good as the guy who's been performing much
longer than him. And if he's that good, now you
know how good might he be in one two years time?

Speaker 2 (02:14):
Absolutely? Ryan and I think, you know, this is the thing.

Speaker 3 (02:16):
I mean, Liam's twenty two and sure next year, you know,
in twenty five, it'll be a tough season for him.
A lot of the circuits he's never been to, so
that's going to be you know, it's going to be
a big learning curve for him. But you know, they're
looking at at a future champion and somebody to support
Max in the shorter term and to score points and

(02:37):
you know, and then for the future. You know, eventually
Max will leave, he'll go some to another team.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
I'm sure, and Red.

Speaker 3 (02:43):
Bull really need to have a driver to step up
and to take the position of number one in that team.
And I'm sure if Limb can perform at the high
level that we think he can, then he will be
the man in the box seat for that role.

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Do you think he can go all the way? Yeah?

Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, Look, I think liamb is a world championship material.
Red Bull, I believe will think exactly the same thing.
And you know, the test will be, you know, twenty five,
but really I think, you know, into twenty six and
twenty seven is where you know Liam will really come alive.
And you know, I do believe that he is the goods.
He's you know, very good mentality, he's a fun guy.

(03:23):
He's a highly talented guy, not only in the car,
but you know, he's quite clever with all sorts of
things outside the car. Good I think with the media,
and all of these things count in his favor.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
I know it's not polite to us, but what would
you get paid for a gig like.

Speaker 3 (03:39):
This, Ran, Look, I do have some experience, having been
deeply involved with Brendan Hartley, who obviously raced for Red
Bull racer Will Forturoso for Red Bull in Formula one
back in seventeen and eighteen. I do have a little
bit of knowledge on that, but I'm sorry I can't
pass it on. But look, he will be on a

(04:02):
lower salary this in twenty five, but you know they
get rewarded on the points that they score, and so
you know, the more points he can score next year,
the more money he will earn. And then from there, obviously,
well sky's the limit. If his talent, you know, matches,
then you know he'll be He'll be on very very
big money.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
Would it like in your first year? Would you be
on millions? Is that out of the realms of possibility?

Speaker 3 (04:25):
Look, look, I believe that he could well be earning
well over a million dollars, you know, if things go
well for him. Yeah, but again it's it's really points
points points, and look, being in a red Bull, you know,
history shows that they always run at the front somewhere
and so therefore points haul you know, that will really

(04:47):
you know, you know, top his bank account up, and
to be honest, it would be great to see that.
You know, I think his parents have sacrificed a huge
amount to get Liam to where he is, and you know,
I'm sure he'll want to reward his parents. It's like
actually Scott Dixon and Brendan Hartley and all the other
Kiwi boys that have gone on and they made great
careers around the world and motorsport. You know, they always

(05:09):
you know, look to look after the family and the
supporters that have supported them to get there.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
You know, it's and that you're right, they have made
huge sacrifice, you know, remortgaging all sorts of stuff, so
they absolutely deserve the whole family. Barry, thank you very
much for being with me this afternoon. Barry Thomlinson, who
founded the Toyota Racing Series where Liam wants race is
now with n Z one Race Management. For more from
Heather Duplessy Allen Drive, Listen live to news talks.

Speaker 3 (05:35):
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