Max Verstappen’s dad serves Michael Schumacher warning to new team-mate Liam Lawson

has offered some candid advice ahead of his Red Bull debut in Melbourne, telling the New Zealander not to try and keep pace with . The four-time world champion’s father learned this lesson during his time with Michael Schumacher at Benetton in 1994.

Lawson was selected as ’s replacement after the under-fire Mexican racer ended his final season with a miserable run of form, scoring just one top-nine finish in the final eight rounds.

However, while every young driver dreams of the opportunity to race for a team in contention for the World Championships, Lawson faces a baptism of fire when he steps behind the wheel of the RB21 at the Australian Grand Prix.

Verstappen’s previous three team-mates – Perez, , and – all failed to lay a glove on the unstoppable Dutchman, and Lawson arrives in Milton Keynes with just 11 Grand Prix starts under his belt.

Offering his advice to the new recruit, Verstappen Snr told : “[My advice is] that he should not make the mistake I made at Benetton in 1994: trying to keep up with Max at all costs. He should do his own thing. Hopefully, he has a similar driving style to Max. Then together they can improve the car.”

Verstappen Snr endured a difficult 10-race stint alongside the legendary Schumacher during the 1994 season at Benetton. The German driver picked up a two-race ban for ignoring a black flag at the British Grand Prix but still pipped Damon Hill to the title by a single point.

While his legendary team-mate scored a total of 92 points, Verstappen Snr ended the season tenth in the standings with two P3 finishes to show from a turbulent campaign. The Dutchman was one of three drivers to race for Benetton in the second seat that year, along with JJ Lehto and Johnny Herbert.

Lawson has a more simple task ahead of him in his first full F1 season. Laying down targets in an interview with RTL, Helmut Marko said: “He should be within three-tenths of Max in both in qualifying and in the race. That should be enough to get points for the Constructors’ Championship. He should also steadily increase his performance – if possible.”

While outsiders are fearful, Lawson has confidence in his ability. “I’m not expecting to go in there and beat him, but I obviously have a level of confidence in my ability, it’s what’s got me to this point,” he said.

“If you’re going in thinking that somebody might be better than you, or that somebody might have the upper hand, or you’re not good enough, then you might as well not turn up. Us as racing drivers, we have to have that mindset. I’m lucky that I’ve had it since I was a kid, and it’s stuck with me all the way through.”