Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old New Zealand driver, has quickly made a name for himself in Formula 1, despite racing in just 11 Grand Prix events so far. His F1 journey began as a replacement for the injured Daniel Ricciardo in 2023, where he filled in for five races while Ricciardo recovered from a hand injury sustained at the Dutch Grand Prix. Lawson's speed and skill were evident, notably with a P9 finish at the Singapore Grand Prix, just his third race in F1.
From Replacement to Full-Time Red Bull Driver
In 2024, Lawson was given an official seat in F1, replacing Ricciardo permanently after the Singapore Grand Prix. With six races left in the season, Lawson again showcased his talents by securing points in his first race at the United States Grand Prix. His impressive performances throughout the season earned him a spot at Red Bull for 2025, with Christian Horner and the team selecting him over his teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who will remain at AlphaTauri.
Gratitude for Family’s Sacrifices in His Racing Career
As Lawson prepares for his first full season with Red Bull in 2025, he took time to reflect on the sacrifices made by his family, particularly his parents, who supported him throughout his motorsport journey. Speaking to Sky Sports shortly after being confirmed as a Red Bull driver for 2025, Lawson shared his gratitude: "The first 12 months of go-karts, I finished solidly last every single time. I was just driving by myself in the back of the field, trying to convince my dad to get a better engine because I was convinced that it was bad, and finally, he did. We put it on for this qualifying session at this big event, and straight away, we were at the front, and that was the moment that karting became serious."
He continued, emphasizing the sacrifices his family made to support his career: "For my parents, they sacrificed everything for me as a kid, so to race even just go-karts, to compete at the front in New Zealand, it's still extremely expensive. My parents don't own a house right now because of me growing up karting and leaving home. And to my siblings, my whole family has given up a lot for me to do this."
A Humorous Story of Family Support
Lawson also shared a funny story about how his sister contributed to his F1 journey in her own way. "It was a really old beat-up polo, and learning how to drive a manual and doing practice starts. It was my sister's car, and I was spinning up the wheels, and I think I fried the clutch as well from memory!" he recalled with a laugh.
Despite not coming from a wealthy background, Lawson expressed how his family's mentality helped him stay determined: "Although I don't come from a family with a lot of money, I was lucky that the mentality from my parents was, ‘If you believe in something, you can do it.’ And they kept that belief in me all the way through until I was old enough to realize what was going on."
As Lawson steps into his new role with Red Bull for the 2025 season, he remains deeply thankful for the unwavering support from his family, who have played a pivotal role in helping him reach the highest levels of motorsport.