December 5, 2024 • 8 mins
Will Liam Lawson race for Red Bull?
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Motorsport on the country Sport Breakfast powered by CRC five
five six made right here in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Talking Formula One now on the show where we're just
well a couple of days away from the Grand Final
for the season, the twenty twenty four season out of
Abu Dhabi, two o'clock in the morning, New Zealand time
on Monday morning. Joining us on the show this morning
is Formula one writer for ESPN, Nate Saunders.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Morning Nate, morning mate. How you doing very well?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Thank you. The twenty twenty four Drivers Championship might be
wrapped up Max Verstappen in Vegas got that one, but
a lot of interest in the Constructor's crown that remains
up for grabs and we here in New Zealand very
interested because of course McClaren are leading that at the moment,
but what do they need to do to win it?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean, I was just trying to work the
permtations though it's hopefully convoluted when you've got four cars involved.
But they're in potentially the worst situation you could be here,
which is they've got quite comfortable lead twenty one points
and they're just trying to defend that against Ferrari, and
we've seen before a lot of things can go wrong
with doing that. I think they have to finish fifth
(01:09):
and sixth would be enough for them, assuming Ferrari don't
finish first and second. If Ferrari finished first and second,
they have to be third and fourth. That's basically the
easiest way of doing it without without borrowing all of
your listeners to death, with all the different permutations. But
they're the favorites definitely, and given where the car should
be for them, you'd expect that they can do that.
But anything can happen to the final races, so it
(01:30):
should be a dramatic one.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
And we've seen that happen. Look at Landa Norrison last
week in getting the teen second penalty exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, and that was huge. I mean, if he hadn't
got that, McLaren would probably have needed a handful of
points at best this weekend. And now you can tell
I've a few people at the claren. You can tell
they're pretty nervously excited about it. But you know how
it is when you go into those things as the
heavy favorites. Sometimes they came back.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Far and there's a lot of talk down under here
about Liam Lawson. Every day the media wrote what is
going to happen with Liam Lawson? I mean the big
story out of yesterday, and I think you wrote it
is the effect that Sergio pires looks it to lose
his drive after this week. Ind Is that right?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah? So every indication I have, and a lot of
other journalists and former one have, is exactly that. I mean,
I think all of us have been stung enough by
Red Bull this year that none of us have said
categorically that it is happening, because we've reported that a
few times that it could, it might, he might retire.
But yeah, it sounds like Red Bull have hit a
limit with Perrot and now after the race, what their
(02:34):
job will be with him will be the workout what
happens next. I mean, the Red Bull contracts, as you
as you well know having covered Mawson's career, very complicated,
very convoluted things. But I think they're going to try
and move him out into an ambassadorial role. He's basically
contracted as a Red Bull driver rather than a driver
for Red Bull Racing, and that's what they'll try and do.
But I imagine there'll be a fairly protracted negotiation between
(02:56):
the two of them. But I think this season, especially
the last few races, just really hammered home the point
of red Ball that he can't continue beyond this week
Beyond this weekend you mentioned the Constructors Championship, that's what happened.
Is eighty ahead of Lando Norris, Red Bull of fifty
nine points behind McLaren. So it shows you just how
and I think Perei is two hundred and seventy one
(03:16):
points behind. Just happened, so it shows you just how
costly he's been being in the car this year. And
I think they've hit that point where enough is enough.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So do they replace Sergio Pires with Liam Lawson or
will it be Yuki Sonoda. That's the big question, isn't.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
It It is? And my indication is my feeling is
the way we go with Liam? You know, I think
that they've they've been impressed with what he's done since
he's come back. The results haven't been incredible since he's
gone back, but he's not He's also not done what
Franko Koonapinto has been doing recently with Williams. He was
another name linked with red Bull recently, which is having
quite expensive crashes, and I think Lawson has shown that
(03:54):
he's an aggressive racer. I mean he's already ticked off
Sergio Perez, he's ticked off and andor Alonso in the
way he's gone about racing quite aggressively. Since he's come back,
they've been quite impressed with that. And I think him
being promoted up as well is a great success story
for them because obviously he's, you know, a long standing
Redwood junior driver. Yuki Sonoda I think has as good
(04:15):
of a claim as Liam Nawson. But for whatever reason,
Red Bull just not convinced he's got the temperament, but
he's got the right stuff to go alongside Max. And
also I think it's it's helpful for Liam that the
Honda deal is ending soon for Red Bull, I think
that would have put Yuki over the edge because he's
obviously come there with with a lot of Honder backing.
But that's just ending up the wrong time for Yuki.
(04:36):
Next year. Lawson, on the other hand, kind of coming in,
kind of coming in fresh and yeah, he's one of
a lot of a lot of fans and a lot
of supporters, including Helmut Marco. Over the last year and
obviously that's the that's the main guy you need in
your corner if you are going to get promoted.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
You've watched Liam Lawson perform and the few Grand Prix
has been in this year, and you've seen a lot
of Formula One and Formula one drivers come and go.
So what do you make of Liam Lawson.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, I've been really impressed with him. I mean, he
waited on the sidelines for a whole year after he
had those races last season, and I spoke to him,
I think it was in Hungary this year, and he
was you could tell how frustrated he was, you could
tell how you know, annoyed, he was just at having
to wait for the opportunity. Obviously there was all the
Ferrari around Ricardo losing his seat. But I think since
he's come in, he's been fantastic. You know, he's raced hard.
(05:24):
He's maybe not had the car that Yuki Sonoda had
at the start of the season. I think RB have
been struggling a little bit or Vcarb as we're meant
to call them. Everyone has a different name for the
second team. But yeah, I've been really impressed with them.
You know, I think he's he's shown he definitely he
hinted at it last year and I think he's confirmed
coming back this year that he deserves not just a
(05:45):
seat on the grid, but I would suggest at least
a competitive one, because I think we're seeing now time
and time again with these these younger drivers that're coming
into form, the one so ready, so prepared, and just
their mentality at such a level that as soon as
they get that competitive car. We've seen it with Piastre,
we've seen it with a bunch of other guys, they're
just ready to kind of move up a level. So
(06:06):
I wouldn't be surprised if we saw that with Liam.
How hid fair alongside Max? I think he's an open
question because no one has really gone alongside Max was
stappened and done well. But I like the way Liam
Mawson's gone racing since he'd come back, and I'm sure
he'd back himself in that situation.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
And we're going to see another Aussie driver on the
grid this weekend, Ossie Jack doing in for istterban Kan
from Lpine. What do you make of that move?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, it's I mean it's a slightly controversial one in
the sense that Okhm has been at the team for
so long. But it's also it makes complete sense for Alpine.
You know, they know doing's coming into the car next year.
His first race otherwise would be his home race. It
would be the Australian Grand Prix. You can imagine some
of the you know, the hype expectation around that. So
I think just giving him a full race weekend before
that it makes a ton of sense to them, you know.
(06:51):
It means he can get those kind of annoying questions
from guys like myself about about his dabut race out
of the way, and then obviously there'll be so much
intrigue just with him, but obviously his father as well
going into that race. But I imagine they'll be kind
of star attractions going into that for the local press.
So yeah, it makes a lot of sense and it'll
be great to see him. I think this year we've
we've been quite lucky, We've been quite spoiled in terms
(07:12):
of seeing these younger drivers come through. We've seen I
mentioned Cola Pinto, We've seen Oliver Berman, We've got Kimi
Anton and I coming in with with Mercedes next year.
So it's a really good time for young drivers. So Yeah,
very excited to see how he gets.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
On Colo Pinto's run up a few bills for Williams though, hasn't.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
He Yeah, he has, and I mean he's kind of
taken himself out out of the loop a little bit
with teams. I mean a few weeks ago, I think
it was in Mexico, a few of the teams were
talking to him, Red Bull, as I mentioned, But you
know that they've obviously got a kind of a slot
now in their driver academy to film now they are
promoting to and into that role. So I think they
(07:49):
were looking to maybe bring color Pinto in underneath him,
and that all seems to have called a little bit recently.
So it shows you in Formula one, you know, as
as good as you might look one weekend, a couple
of crashes later and suddenly you know, you find yourself
on the ace a little bit.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well, we'll look for the big news next week with that,
Liam Lawson and Red Bull. Hey, Nate, thanks for joining us, mate,
enjoy the weekends racing.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Thanks very much for mate, you too.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Nate Saunders, Formula one writer for ESPN. Here on the
Country Sport, Breakfast on Gold Sport,
Motorsport on the country Sport Breakfast powered by CRC five
five six made right here in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Talking Formula One now on the show where we're just
well a couple of days away from the Grand Final
for the season, the twenty twenty four season out of
Abu Dhabi, two o'clock in the morning, New Zealand time
on Monday morning. Joining us on the show this morning
is Formula one writer for ESPN, Nate Saunders.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Morning Nate, morning mate. How you doing very well?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Thank you. The twenty twenty four Drivers Championship might be
wrapped up Max Verstappen in Vegas got that one, but
a lot of interest in the Constructor's crown that remains
up for grabs and we here in New Zealand very
interested because of course McClaren are leading that at the moment,
but what do they need to do to win it?
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, I mean, I was just trying to work the
permtations though it's hopefully convoluted when you've got four cars involved.
But they're in potentially the worst situation you could be here,
which is they've got quite comfortable lead twenty one points
and they're just trying to defend that against Ferrari, and
we've seen before a lot of things can go wrong
with doing that. I think they have to finish fifth
(01:09):
and sixth would be enough for them, assuming Ferrari don't
finish first and second. If Ferrari finished first and second,
they have to be third and fourth. That's basically the
easiest way of doing it without without borrowing all of
your listeners to death, with all the different permutations. But
they're the favorites definitely, and given where the car should
be for them, you'd expect that they can do that.
But anything can happen to the final races, so it
(01:30):
should be a dramatic one.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
And we've seen that happen. Look at Landa Norrison last
week in getting the teen second penalty exactly.
Speaker 1 (01:37):
Yeah, and that was huge. I mean, if he hadn't
got that, McLaren would probably have needed a handful of
points at best this weekend. And now you can tell
I've a few people at the claren. You can tell
they're pretty nervously excited about it. But you know how
it is when you go into those things as the
heavy favorites. Sometimes they came back.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Far and there's a lot of talk down under here
about Liam Lawson. Every day the media wrote what is
going to happen with Liam Lawson? I mean the big
story out of yesterday, and I think you wrote it
is the effect that Sergio pires looks it to lose
his drive after this week. Ind Is that right?
Speaker 1 (02:13):
Yeah? So every indication I have, and a lot of
other journalists and former one have, is exactly that. I mean,
I think all of us have been stung enough by
Red Bull this year that none of us have said
categorically that it is happening, because we've reported that a
few times that it could, it might, he might retire.
But yeah, it sounds like Red Bull have hit a
limit with Perrot and now after the race, what their
(02:34):
job will be with him will be the workout what
happens next. I mean, the Red Bull contracts, as you
as you well know having covered Mawson's career, very complicated,
very convoluted things. But I think they're going to try
and move him out into an ambassadorial role. He's basically
contracted as a Red Bull driver rather than a driver
for Red Bull Racing, and that's what they'll try and do.
But I imagine there'll be a fairly protracted negotiation between
(02:56):
the two of them. But I think this season, especially
the last few races, just really hammered home the point
of red Ball that he can't continue beyond this week
Beyond this weekend you mentioned the Constructors Championship, that's what happened.
Is eighty ahead of Lando Norris, Red Bull of fifty
nine points behind McLaren. So it shows you just how
and I think Perei is two hundred and seventy one
(03:16):
points behind. Just happened, so it shows you just how
costly he's been being in the car this year. And
I think they've hit that point where enough is enough.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
So do they replace Sergio Pires with Liam Lawson or
will it be Yuki Sonoda. That's the big question, isn't.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
It It is? And my indication is my feeling is
the way we go with Liam? You know, I think
that they've they've been impressed with what he's done since
he's come back. The results haven't been incredible since he's
gone back, but he's not He's also not done what
Franko Koonapinto has been doing recently with Williams. He was
another name linked with red Bull recently, which is having
quite expensive crashes, and I think Lawson has shown that
(03:54):
he's an aggressive racer. I mean he's already ticked off
Sergio Perez, he's ticked off and andor Alonso in the
way he's gone about racing quite aggressively. Since he's come back,
they've been quite impressed with that. And I think him
being promoted up as well is a great success story
for them because obviously he's, you know, a long standing
Redwood junior driver. Yuki Sonoda I think has as good
(04:15):
of a claim as Liam Nawson. But for whatever reason,
Red Bull just not convinced he's got the temperament, but
he's got the right stuff to go alongside Max. And
also I think it's it's helpful for Liam that the
Honda deal is ending soon for Red Bull, I think
that would have put Yuki over the edge because he's
obviously come there with with a lot of Honder backing.
But that's just ending up the wrong time for Yuki.
(04:36):
Next year. Lawson, on the other hand, kind of coming in,
kind of coming in fresh and yeah, he's one of
a lot of a lot of fans and a lot
of supporters, including Helmut Marco. Over the last year and
obviously that's the that's the main guy you need in
your corner if you are going to get promoted.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
You've watched Liam Lawson perform and the few Grand Prix
has been in this year, and you've seen a lot
of Formula One and Formula one drivers come and go.
So what do you make of Liam Lawson.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Yeah, I've been really impressed with him. I mean, he
waited on the sidelines for a whole year after he
had those races last season, and I spoke to him,
I think it was in Hungary this year, and he
was you could tell how frustrated he was, you could
tell how you know, annoyed, he was just at having
to wait for the opportunity. Obviously there was all the
Ferrari around Ricardo losing his seat. But I think since
he's come in, he's been fantastic. You know, he's raced hard.
(05:24):
He's maybe not had the car that Yuki Sonoda had
at the start of the season. I think RB have
been struggling a little bit or Vcarb as we're meant
to call them. Everyone has a different name for the
second team. But yeah, I've been really impressed with them.
You know, I think he's he's shown he definitely he
hinted at it last year and I think he's confirmed
coming back this year that he deserves not just a
(05:45):
seat on the grid, but I would suggest at least
a competitive one, because I think we're seeing now time
and time again with these these younger drivers that're coming
into form, the one so ready, so prepared, and just
their mentality at such a level that as soon as
they get that competitive car. We've seen it with Piastre,
we've seen it with a bunch of other guys, they're
just ready to kind of move up a level. So
(06:06):
I wouldn't be surprised if we saw that with Liam.
How hid fair alongside Max? I think he's an open
question because no one has really gone alongside Max was
stappened and done well. But I like the way Liam
Mawson's gone racing since he'd come back, and I'm sure
he'd back himself in that situation.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
And we're going to see another Aussie driver on the
grid this weekend, Ossie Jack doing in for istterban Kan
from Lpine. What do you make of that move?
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Yeah, it's I mean it's a slightly controversial one in
the sense that Okhm has been at the team for
so long. But it's also it makes complete sense for Alpine.
You know, they know doing's coming into the car next year.
His first race otherwise would be his home race. It
would be the Australian Grand Prix. You can imagine some
of the you know, the hype expectation around that. So
I think just giving him a full race weekend before
that it makes a ton of sense to them, you know.
(06:51):
It means he can get those kind of annoying questions
from guys like myself about about his dabut race out
of the way, and then obviously there'll be so much
intrigue just with him, but obviously his father as well
going into that race. But I imagine they'll be kind
of star attractions going into that for the local press.
So yeah, it makes a lot of sense and it'll
be great to see him. I think this year we've
we've been quite lucky, We've been quite spoiled in terms
(07:12):
of seeing these younger drivers come through. We've seen I
mentioned Cola Pinto, We've seen Oliver Berman, We've got Kimi
Anton and I coming in with with Mercedes next year.
So it's a really good time for young drivers. So Yeah,
very excited to see how he gets.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
On Colo Pinto's run up a few bills for Williams though, hasn't.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
He Yeah, he has, and I mean he's kind of
taken himself out out of the loop a little bit
with teams. I mean a few weeks ago, I think
it was in Mexico, a few of the teams were
talking to him, Red Bull, as I mentioned, But you
know that they've obviously got a kind of a slot
now in their driver academy to film now they are
promoting to and into that role. So I think they
(07:49):
were looking to maybe bring color Pinto in underneath him,
and that all seems to have called a little bit recently.
So it shows you in Formula one, you know, as
as good as you might look one weekend, a couple
of crashes later and suddenly you know, you find yourself
on the ace a little bit.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Well, we'll look for the big news next week with that,
Liam Lawson and Red Bull. Hey, Nate, thanks for joining us, mate,
enjoy the weekends racing.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
Thanks very much for mate, you too.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Nate Saunders, Formula one writer for ESPN. Here on the
Country Sport, Breakfast on Gold Sport,
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