Visa Cash RB App reserve driver Liam Lawson is in a ‘frustrating’ situation this year, team principal Laurent Mekies concedes.
Lawson stepped into the team for five races last year after Daniel Ricciardo broke his wrist in an accident in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix.
However, the team decided to retain Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda as their driver pairing for 2024, and Mekies admits this was a setback for Lawson.
Having finished third in Formula 2 in 2022, Lawson produced an excellent showing in his first taste of the highest level.
He beat teammate Tsunoda at a wet Zandvoort on his debut, and later scored points at the Singapore Grand Prix by finishing ninth.
The New Zealander narrowly missed out on adding to that tally when he placed 11th at the next event in Japan, but he nonetheless out-raced Tsunoda once more.
Both of the team’s senior drivers are out of contract at the end of 2024, so Lawson may hope to gain a permanent promotion for next year.
Laurent Mekies says RB will look for future opportunities for Liam Lawson
Speaking on the Beyond The Grid podcast, new RB team principal Mekies reflected that Lawson caught the eye of the whole paddock with his displays in 2023.
He says the 22-year-old is getting through plenty of important work in the background, but understands that it is ‘frustrating’ that he isn’t on the grid.
The Frenchman said: “Liam did impress everyone last year. We have very talented reserve drivers. We are taking every opportunity to put him in the car.
“He drove in Imola last month with the 2022 car. He’s going to be with us pretty much every weekend. He’s driving for us in the simulator.
“He’s not racing, but we are trying to grow him as much as we can. We have discussed how important it is to get that time with engineers, to grow in your understanding of the dynamics of the team, of what is behind the data.
“We are conscious that it is frustrating for a driver not to race, but we are trying to build the best platform for him, then we will all see if an opportunity comes.”
Tsunoda and Ricciardo face pressure at RB
When he delivered the news that Ricciardo and Tsunoda would retain their drivers, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Lawson that he’d ‘get his chance’.
More than half the grid are in the final year of their deals, so there may be opportunities elsewhere if he can’t get in at RB.
The incumbent duo at Faenza both know that they’re under pressure to deliver with Lawson waiting in the wings.
Nyck de Vries lost his seat midway through last season because he was deemed to be underperforming.
Tsunoda expressed his anger with the team at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix after he was asked to let Ricciardo past to attack the Haas of Kevin Magnussen.
Sky F1 pundit Naomi Schiff suspects he feels ‘threatened’ by his more experienced partner.
He nearly collided with Ricciardo on the cooldown lap, and may be expected to demonstrate a calmer head in what is his third season in Formula 1.
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