Last week, Liam Lawson went back to school. The New Zealander didn't go to school, but to Milton Keynes, where the headquarters of Red Bull, his new team, is located. From the Australian Grand Prix, the former Racing Bulls driver will replace Sergio Perez in the RB21 twin of that of Max Verstappen.
After only eleven Grands Prix in Formula 1, a colossal challenge awaits him that others before him have successfully completed, while the less fortunate have painfully failed. Liam Lawson has the distinction of being the least experienced Red Bull rookie in history. Alex Albon had only started 12 races when he was pushed into place of Pierre Gasly during the 2019 season.
The Thai had achieved seven consecutive top 6 finishes in his first races, which convinced Red Bull to entrust him with the wheel of their car for the 2020 season. Promoting a youngster with little experience is a specialty of the Austrian house: Christian Klien (18), Daniil Kvyat (19), Max Verstappen (23) Sebastian Vettel (26) and Pierre Gasly (26) all started with the Winged Bull with less than 30 Grands Prix under their belts.
Vettel and Ricciardo's failed debuts before a successful season
Despite his limited experience, Liam Lawson has earned his place in sporting terms by showing his level during his time at Racing Bulls alongside Yuki tsunoda, with whom he was in the running to take Sergio Perez's place. Now officially a Red Bull driver, the Kiwi will have to try to get his story with Red Bull off to a good start in his first race in Australia. Max Verstappen has the most sensational performance for a Red Bull debut thanks to his victory in his very first Grand Prix in Spain in 2016.
The Dutchman's fantastic success foreshadowed what was to come in the years to come, but for some, the beginnings were less glorious. Sebastian Vettel began his adventure at Red Bull with a collision with Robert Kubica two laps from the finish of the 2009 Australian Grand Prix. Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified from his first race, while Pierre Gasly finished 11th, just outside the points, like Mark Webber (13th).
Conversely, some have started their story rather well: Alex Albon climbed back to 5th place after starting 17th. A top 5 finish also launched the careers of Sergio Pérez (5th) and David Coulthard (4th). However, initial performances do not always bode well for seasons to come. The reference in this game is undoubtedly Sebastian Vettel, second in the 2009 championship and who came very close to stealing the title from the unexpected Jenson Button despite his retirement in Australia. Let's not forget the sensational first steps of a young 25-year-old Australian with a sparkling smile: Daniel Ricciardo beat Sebastian Vettel in his first season at Red Bull (3rd behind the Mercedes in 2014), despite his disqualification in the first race.
However, not all the trajectories have much in common: the drivers did not have the same machines in their hands, nor did they drive at the same time, but above all they did not all face the same teammate. Mark Webber and Sergio Perez may have spent seven and four years at Red Bull, they had to team up with two four-time world champions at the top of their game. This is where the task looks most difficult for Liam Lawson: the New Zealander will have to measure up to the best version of Max Verstappen, who has just been crowned champion after a masterfully controlled season despite a single-seater whose performance declined in the second half of the year.
Lawson has no pressure, but already a clear goal
The opportunity available to Liam Lawson is similar in many ways to that of Pierre Gasly. Promoted after only ten Grands Prix with Toro Rosso/Racing Bulls, the two men replace a driver – Daniil Kvyat and Sergio Perez – who disappointed by his inability to keep up with his illustrious teammate. The difference between the trajectories of Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson may be at the level of the team's demands cursor.
Helmut Marko was clear: the starting position of Liam Lawson instead of Yuki Tsunoda is above all linked to the mental strength of the number 30. The octogenarian explained to the German media RTL that the Kiwi must accept that Max Verstappen is the best in order to " to avoid what many teammates " have done, that is to say " looking for solutions in technology, with absurd settings."
"You have to accept that he (Max Verstappen, editor's note) is the best and see how far you can go. But you can't go there thinking 'I'm going to beat him'. That's what didn't work with all his teammates." continues the head of the young drivers' program at Red Bull, who believes the New Zealander is more capable of putting his ego aside than Yuki Tsunoda. "[Liam Lawson] should be three tenths behind Max, both in qualifying and in the race", continues Helmut Marko.
The goal is clear for the 22-year-old driver: choose his trajectory between the failures experienced by Daniil Kvyat, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly, or try to keep his place for a long time like Mark Webber, Sergio Pérez or David Coulthard did. Unless Lawson risks trying to turn the tables and make the king waver in the manner of Daniel Ricciardo. But the bet would be at least daring, if not suicidal.
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