Red Bull insider showers driver with praise – ‘Man for the future’
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has showered VCARB driver Liam Lawson with praise after his 2024 debut in Austin.
Lawson was brought in to replace Daniel Ricciardo with immediate effect at Red Bull’s sister team and has until the end of the season to prove himself worthy of a full-time seat in F1. On top of the opening at VCARB, there have been countless rumors that Red Bull driver Sergio Perez could be retiring.
Whispers of Perez considering retirement intensified when speculations surfaced ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix. The veteran driver, however, was swift in countering these claims, reinforcing his commitment to Red Bull through a social media post.
Although Perez’s recent contract with Red Bull includes an option for 2026, his performance on the track has not consistently met expectations. In Austin, Perez was notably outperformed by drivers such as his teammate Max Verstappen, as well as George Russell, who impressively advanced despite starting from the pitlane.
Meanwhile, the excitement around Lawson is steadily mounting. The decision to place Lawson in Ricciardo’s seat at VCARB for the season’s final races has proven fruitful. His performance in Austin was particularly noteworthy. Starting from the back of the grid with a substantial 60-place grid penalty, Lawson managed to climb into the points, showcasing both his speed and his adept race management.
Whilst speaking to the media about his performance, Marko commented:
“A great debut. That was already clear in Q1, where he drove the third-fastest time. He was in control the whole time and had great overtaking manoeuvres. You have to put the youngsters in the car and then it works. He is definitely a man for the future.”
Red Bull is starting to feel the repercussions of Perez’s struggles, as well as some issues with upgrades. The Austrian team lost the lead of the Constructors’ Championship after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and they are now just eight points ahead of Ferrari in third after the Maranello-based squad secured a 1-2 finish in Austin.
There are five races left of the 2024 season and it looks as though the fight for the Constructors’ Championship could go until the end.
2024 F1 Constructors’ Championship: Current Standings1. McLaren – 544 points
2. Red Bull Racing – 504 points
3. Ferrari – 496 points
4. Mercedes – 344 points
5. Aston Martin – 86 points
6. Haas – 38 points
7. VCARB – 36 points
8. Williams – 17 points
9. Alpine – 13 points
10. Sauber – 0 points
