Liam Lawson is a New Zealand Formula 1 driver currently racing for Racing Bulls — Red Bull’s junior team. Fast, fearless, and full of promise, Lawson burst onto the F1 scene with a stellar substitute stint and looked destined for big things. But in Red Bull world, momentum is fragile. One wrong turn, a few bad weekends, and you’re out of the fast lane. Now Lawson is fighting to reclaim a future that once looked so certain — and to prove he’s more than just another Max Verstappen footnote.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Liam Hunter Lawson |
| Born | 11 February 2002, Hastings, New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Current Team | Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri) |
| Red Bull Debut | 2026 (briefly) |
| F1 Debut | 2023 (sub for Daniel Ricciardo) |
| Junior Highlight | 3rd in Super Formula (2023), F2 podiums |
From Hero to Hold That Thought
Liam Lawson did what every reserve dreams of doing — stepped into a car mid-season and immediately made headlines. When Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand in 2023, Lawson jumped into the AlphaTauri and didn’t just survive — he impressed. Scored points. Outpaced Yuki Tsunoda on occasion. Looked calm, quick, and ready.
The hype was real. The promotion felt inevitable.
Then it happened. A seat at Red Bull. The big stage. The shot every junior dreams of. And like so many before him… Lawson cracked.
He didn’t collapse. He wasn’t terrible. But he didn’t beat Max (nobody does), and more worryingly — he didn’t do enough to justify the risk. Race after race, the gap widened. Quiet weekends turned into forgettable ones. The momentum disappeared. And Red Bull did what Red Bull always does when the numbers don’t scream “next champion” — they sent him back down.
Career Timeline: Flash, Fall, and Fightback
- Junior Years
- Rose through New Zealand karting and regional series.
- Joined Red Bull Junior Team.
- Strong in F3 and F2 — not always dominant, but punchy and aggressive.
- Finished 3rd in Japan’s Super Formula in 2023 — a proving ground for F1 readiness.
- Rose through New Zealand karting and regional series.
- F1 Sub Debut (2023)
- Substituted for injured Ricciardo at AlphaTauri.
- Scored points at Singapore. Fast, clean, mature performances.
- Widely praised — earned himself a seat for the future.
- Substituted for injured Ricciardo at AlphaTauri.
- Red Bull Promotion (2026)
- Called up to the senior team after Pérez’s departure.
- Struggled under pressure. Verstappen untouchable. Lawson… not close.
- A few rough races later, demoted back to Racing Bulls.
- Called up to the senior team after Pérez’s departure.
- Back to Square One (2027– )
- Now back where he started — trying to rebuild.
- Still quick. Still hungry. But the shine is gone.
- Future uncertain in a system that demands perfection and forgets fast.
- Now back where he started — trying to rebuild.
Life in the Red Bull Blender
Liam Lawson has talent. That’s not the issue. But Red Bull isn’t a place for slow burns. It’s a performance meat grinder. You have to arrive fully formed, out-qualify your teammate, and at least threaten Max Verstappen — or you’re just another line in a long, brutal spreadsheet.
Lawson got close. Then he got caught.
Now, his career is at a crossroads. Still young, still sharp — but running out of patience from a program that doesn’t wait for anyone.
We’ll find out soon what Liam Lawson is really made of.
