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Liam Lawson Told to Form Alliances in Red Bull Garage Amidst Mental Battle With Max Verstappen

Somin Bhattacharjee
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Max Verstappen(L), Liam Lawson(R)

The first rival a driver will be compared with in F1 is always their own teammate. That’s a commonly repeated phrase among those in the community, which doesn’t set a very promising stage for Liam Lawson, who will join Red Bull in 2025.

Sparky cameo appearances are one thing, but being teammates with Max Verstappen will be an entirely different challenge. Most have failed it, including the likes of Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and most recently Sergio Perez.

Matching the Dutchman is no easy feat, and Lawson has to be at his best to not be obliterated in terms of stats. It could be demoralizing, and at the same time, it could also derail his F1 career moving forward.

Thankfully, nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen has some words of advice for him.

To make sure he can put up a fight, the Dane wants him to make friends in the Red Bull garage. This isn’t just because of talent, but also the ‘mental battle’ that comes with the four-time champ being as good as he is.

“You need to win your side of the garage,” Kristensen said on the RacingNews365 podcast. “You don’t want your side of the garage looking the other side, you need to make sure everyone wants you to do well together…” Kristensen emphasized the need to be open with everyone on the team, as that is what will ultimately help Lawson chase success.

“Once in a while you can crack a joke, but definitely show them you are hard. You work hard”, he further explained. Most importantly, Kristensen suggested Lawson be brutally honest, even if it means admitting to his own mistakes.

What Lawson cannot afford to do

Mechanics and engineers are the backbone of an F1 team during a Grand Prix weekend. If they don’t receive the right feedback, they are bound to make mistakes, which they will only realize until it is too late.

Plus, if Lawson decides to mask his failures by not being truthful, it will lead to his engineers losing trust. “They don’t want to have anyone in who is trying to protect his own performance. Because when you go down the wrong alley and then immediately you lose everything. You lose confidence from your garage…,” Kristensen added.

It won’t be easy for Lawson. That’s for certain.

He has made 11 appearances for Red Bull’s sister team over the last two years and has done a decent enough job for the Austrian squad to call him up. But dealing with Verstappen as a partner will be something unprecedented for the Kiwi driver.

Post Edited By:Vidit Dhawan

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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