December 8, 2024 • 5 mins
Liam Lawson awaits his fate as his last six races are deemed an 'audition' for next year.
Motorsport Correspondent Eric Thompson says the 22-year-old has done everything required of him.
"He's young, he is quick and he is marketable, which matters at this elite level of sport."
Thompson says the stars are aligned for Lawson.
LISTEN ABOVE.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the carry Wood of morning's podcast from
news Talk Said B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joined now by Eric Thompson, who is The Herald's motorsport correspondent.
Very good morning to.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
You, Eric, Good morning carry I was listening to your
recent chatting about Liam Lawson, and first of all, I'd
say thank you ever so much. Being a bit of
a petrol head you chatting about him.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh well, why wouldn't you?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yeah, well.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Exactly. I mean it's it's some of your text you've
read out and it is so hard to get into
formula one and it really isn't about talent. It's more
about a do you come with the biggest checkbook known
to mandal Beast or sponsorship or something like that. So
for Lawson to a get a chance is pretty spectacular,
(00:58):
That's what I think it really is. And everybody involved
with him, his team, his dad Jared, and he's and
Grant McDonald who saw him way way way back in
the group of you know, investors and people who got
behind him in road and cars. You know, he can
sit down at the end of this and be extraordinarily happy,
(01:18):
and they will be happy because the interesting thing here
is that although you know his last couple of results
aren't what sort of armchare what I call arm chaef
Fans think that why isn't in the points? Why isn't
he in the top ten? Well, there's loads and loads
of things, but it's his race pace is what people
look at. The people who know, they go when he
was amongst the pack, when he was racing a can
(01:41):
he pass and we all know he can pass. Be
he's not a wallflower. You know, he's taken on Alonzo
and the Staff and Hamilton and all this lot, so
he's no wallflower and stuff like that is what they
look for in a driver. And also his car blew up.
He hasn't crashed the thing. He's kipt it absolutely straight.
So all these boxes are all being ticked in his
(02:05):
audition the next year. Is what the last six races
really were?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yes, they were. I've had a couple of Texas saying
he's in. It's been announced that he's in, but I
can't see that on the wires yet.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No, that's I mean, there's lots of people think they know,
and they go on social media and you know, like
all that sort of stuff. The only people who really
know will be Christian Horner, Helmut Marco, his dad and
his manager, Oh and Liam of course, yeah, and I'm
a bit bit like you. Carry of course I've got contacts,
(02:38):
I know people, but it's until that is announced officially
by Red Bull. But yeah, to me, it hasn't happened.
But he has done everything required of him and it's
not about the points. These six races weren't about that
at all. But he also got points. He didn't beat
(03:00):
his teammate Yuki Sonoda, but Uki Sonoda has had eighty
plus gone priz Yeah, has had eleven. And yet he's
consistently been equal with him or you or be exactly.
So it's not as if you know, he's turned out
to be a Coilopino who did millions of dollars with
(03:22):
the damage to a car or you know, or something
like that. He's young, he's quick, he's got you know,
and again somebody touched on. He is marketable. That's all
part of it. At the elite level of sport, if
you marketable. Teams love that he gets on well with
Christian Horner. Helmut Marco thinks he's got the goods. So
the stars are aligned.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Shall we say, well, how earth could the pit crew
not attach the wheel properly. That I mean, I was
a bit like kristin my Texter. I was like, there's
got to be more than that. Like has he has
he rubbed some people up the wrong way within the team,
like within Red Bull, I.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Doubt he would have rubbed anybody out the wrong way
within his team. His team and especially the team principal
think highly of them. The only rubbed up as probably
his teammates, Yuki. But if you're not rubbing your teammate
the wrong way, you know you're not trying hard enough.
You know they're not friends. Because the first person you
ever want to beat on a racetrack, Harry, is your teammate.
The rest is just interest. But no, that wheel, if
(04:23):
you watched it closely, is the wheel. Gun guy never
got the gun on the wheel. Now, there's no way
on God's Earth anybody would do that deliberately. First of all,
the potential of killing somebody, yes extraordinary, plus not only
yourself but somebody else on the racetrack. And number two,
any pit crew member would be found out in an
(04:46):
instant and they'd be instantly sacked and probably charged with something.
So there's no way that would have been deliberate. They're
trying to do that in two between two and two
point five seconds for four wheels change. Just think next
time somebody's got a flat time you're trying and change
your tie on the side of the motorway, you'll be
there for like forty five minutes. These guys are doing
it two and a half seconds, So mistakes do and
(05:08):
will happen.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So your money is on him getting the seat a seat.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yes, I don't know whether it will be with Max
or still at RB, but my money is heavily on
he is in with a seat next year. Yes, I'm
quite happy to not sit on the fence there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yay, love it, Thank you so much, Eric, lovely to chat.
Eric Thompson, who is the Motive of Sport correspondent to
The New Zealand Herald, obviously worth reading and listening to
News Talk said B It's eleven thirty two.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
For more from carry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
News Talk Set B from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the carry Wood of morning's podcast from
news Talk Said B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Joined now by Eric Thompson, who is The Herald's motorsport correspondent.
Very good morning to.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
You, Eric, Good morning carry I was listening to your
recent chatting about Liam Lawson, and first of all, I'd
say thank you ever so much. Being a bit of
a petrol head you chatting about him.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh well, why wouldn't you?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Yeah, well.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Exactly. I mean it's it's some of your text you've
read out and it is so hard to get into
formula one and it really isn't about talent. It's more
about a do you come with the biggest checkbook known
to mandal Beast or sponsorship or something like that. So
for Lawson to a get a chance is pretty spectacular,
(00:58):
That's what I think it really is. And everybody involved
with him, his team, his dad Jared, and he's and
Grant McDonald who saw him way way way back in
the group of you know, investors and people who got
behind him in road and cars. You know, he can
sit down at the end of this and be extraordinarily happy,
(01:18):
and they will be happy because the interesting thing here
is that although you know his last couple of results
aren't what sort of armchare what I call arm chaef
Fans think that why isn't in the points? Why isn't
he in the top ten? Well, there's loads and loads
of things, but it's his race pace is what people
look at. The people who know, they go when he
was amongst the pack, when he was racing a can
(01:41):
he pass and we all know he can pass. Be
he's not a wallflower. You know, he's taken on Alonzo
and the Staff and Hamilton and all this lot, so
he's no wallflower and stuff like that is what they
look for in a driver. And also his car blew up.
He hasn't crashed the thing. He's kipt it absolutely straight.
So all these boxes are all being ticked in his
(02:05):
audition the next year. Is what the last six races
really were?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yes, they were. I've had a couple of Texas saying
he's in. It's been announced that he's in, but I
can't see that on the wires yet.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
No, that's I mean, there's lots of people think they know,
and they go on social media and you know, like
all that sort of stuff. The only people who really
know will be Christian Horner, Helmut Marco, his dad and
his manager, Oh and Liam of course, yeah, and I'm
a bit bit like you. Carry of course I've got contacts,
(02:38):
I know people, but it's until that is announced officially
by Red Bull. But yeah, to me, it hasn't happened.
But he has done everything required of him and it's
not about the points. These six races weren't about that
at all. But he also got points. He didn't beat
(03:00):
his teammate Yuki Sonoda, but Uki Sonoda has had eighty
plus gone priz Yeah, has had eleven. And yet he's
consistently been equal with him or you or be exactly.
So it's not as if you know, he's turned out
to be a Coilopino who did millions of dollars with
(03:22):
the damage to a car or you know, or something
like that. He's young, he's quick, he's got you know,
and again somebody touched on. He is marketable. That's all
part of it. At the elite level of sport, if
you marketable. Teams love that he gets on well with
Christian Horner. Helmut Marco thinks he's got the goods. So
the stars are aligned.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Shall we say, well, how earth could the pit crew
not attach the wheel properly. That I mean, I was
a bit like kristin my Texter. I was like, there's
got to be more than that. Like has he has
he rubbed some people up the wrong way within the team,
like within Red Bull, I.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Doubt he would have rubbed anybody out the wrong way
within his team. His team and especially the team principal
think highly of them. The only rubbed up as probably
his teammates, Yuki. But if you're not rubbing your teammate
the wrong way, you know you're not trying hard enough.
You know they're not friends. Because the first person you
ever want to beat on a racetrack, Harry, is your teammate.
The rest is just interest. But no, that wheel, if
(04:23):
you watched it closely, is the wheel. Gun guy never
got the gun on the wheel. Now, there's no way
on God's Earth anybody would do that deliberately. First of all,
the potential of killing somebody, yes extraordinary, plus not only
yourself but somebody else on the racetrack. And number two,
any pit crew member would be found out in an
(04:46):
instant and they'd be instantly sacked and probably charged with something.
So there's no way that would have been deliberate. They're
trying to do that in two between two and two
point five seconds for four wheels change. Just think next
time somebody's got a flat time you're trying and change
your tie on the side of the motorway, you'll be
there for like forty five minutes. These guys are doing
it two and a half seconds, So mistakes do and
(05:08):
will happen.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
So your money is on him getting the seat a seat.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Yes, I don't know whether it will be with Max
or still at RB, but my money is heavily on
he is in with a seat next year. Yes, I'm
quite happy to not sit on the fence there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yay, love it, Thank you so much, Eric, lovely to chat.
Eric Thompson, who is the Motive of Sport correspondent to
The New Zealand Herald, obviously worth reading and listening to
News Talk said B It's eleven thirty two.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
For more from carry Wood and Mornings, listen live to
News Talk Set B from nine am weekdays, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.