Liam Lawson is now a Red Bull F1 driver (Image: Getty)
has revealed that told him, ‘Do the job, otherwise you’re axed’ every other week during his junior career. The New Zealander has replaced alongside for the 2025 season.
Lawson finds himself in an unprecedented position heading into the season opener in Melbourne. The 21-year-old has just 11 Grand Prix starts under his belt but was selected ahead of to become four-time world champion Verstappen’s new team-mate.
Ahead of his debut for the Milton Keynes squad, Lawson returned to the Formula Regional Oceania Championship for the opening round, handing over the victor’s trophy to fellow junior Arvid Lindblad.
In an interview after the event, he offered an insight into his journey within the set-up. “Obviously, I have to be realistic,” he explained. “And so realistically, I know going in, I’m going to a whole bunch of tracks I’ve never done before, and it’s my first full season.
“So I’m not expecting to go in there and fight with him for race wins instantly. But obviously, I’m expecting to perform well, and do the drive that the team needs me to do. And I’m obviously not there to lose either, I’m only there for one reason.
“So it’s exciting. I think ’s environment for the last six years has always been under pressure. That’s how it started when I was 16 when they signed me. I had the phone calls from Helmut every other week about, ‘do the job, otherwise you’re axed’.
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Helmut Marko has a brutal way of treating young Red Bull prospects (Image: Getty)
“And those kind of moments are, obviously, as a young driver, they put a lot of pressure on you, and that builds you really for F1. So I feel like I’ve sort of been developed for this opportunity.”
Lawson’s success is now the ultimate inspiration for junior team drivers, present and future. The man he handed the trophy to in Taupo, Lindblad, is considered the Milton Keynes squad’s most exciting talent and will make his Formula Two debut in 2025.
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Speaking about the 17-year-old, who won four times in his rookie Formula Two campaign, said: “Arvid did a great job to win the Formula Three race [in Barcelona]. He’s in his rookie season.
“He’s a real talent. He’s one of the brightest talents that we have in the junior program. A very talented young driver and excited about his 16 years of age. We’re going to keep an eye on him for the future, for sure.”