In the build-up to the Qatar GP, the headline was the imminent return of Daniel Ricciardo to the track following his injury. The Australian was hard at work in making the comeback as soon as possible, but Qatar couldn’t come soon enough for him. As racing in Qatar inches closer, it’s heartbreak hour for Ricciardo, who has to wait until F1 reaches the US for his return. Meanwhile, his replacement, Liam Lawson, thought he had no more races this season. As such, Ricciardo took it upon himself to ‘cold call’ Lawson and give him the news.
Posting an update on X (formerly Twitter), F1 Journalist with The Athletic, Luke Smith, reported how the whole incident unfolded following the New Zealand driver’s revelations during the final pre-race press conference of the season with F1 TV.
Liam Lawson details how Daniel Ricciardo told him he would race in Qatar
The pre-race press conference by F1 TV often ends up with hilarious revelations and talking points right before the race weekend gets underway. The tradition did not break when F1 made its stop in Qatar as AlphaTauri’s stand-in driver, Liam Lawson, had an intriguing revelation, subsequently quoted by Luke Smith on X. The host asked Lawson how he found out he’d be racing in Qatar after Ricciardo was told to take more rest before coming back to the grid.
“On Monday, I was sitting at lunch, and I had a random number call me, and it was a FaceTime, so I was really confused… I answered it, and it was just Daniel’s face.”
The Qatar GP will give Lawson one more chance to showcase his talents before he takes a place behind the curtains at AlphaTauri. Despite consistently impressive performances, the New Zealander has no secure future in F1, with Red Bull opting to go with the Ricciardo-Tsunoda pairing for the 2024 season.
What does the future hold for Lawson?
Having surpassed everyone’s expectations, Lawson has little left to prove. Yet, the 21-year-old could not find a confirmed seat with AlphaTauri for the 2024 season. As Red Bull keeps their current driver lineup, Lawson will remain with the team, but only as their reserve driver. However, with one seat still up for grabs for the 2024 season, there is a chance that Lawson might take it if the opportunity presents itself.
The presence of Lawson in the Red Bull garage will be a constant threat to Ricciardo, Tsunoda, and even Sergio Perez, as all three of them will be under the radar in the first half of the next season. They will all be under additional pressure as they look to secure a future with their current employers as Lawson watches the show in silence, patiently waiting for his chance.
