Red Bull’s Liam Lawson fires back at Helmut Marko and ‘not happy’ with new role

Liam Lawson has impressed the whole paddock with his performances this season (Image: Getty) Liam Lawson has claimed that he won’t be happy to sit on the sidelines as Red Bull ‘s test and reserve driver next season following speculation that the New Zealander will not be placed into a race seat for the 2024 campaign. The 21-year-old Kiwi has made an immense impression during the early stages of his F1 career, scoring points at just the third time of asking in one of the most difficult races of the season in Singapore last time out.  Despite this success, it looks like Lawson will not be driving for AlphaTauri full-time next season. Instead, the Hastings-born driver looks set to be confined to simulator and test work for both Red Bull-backed teams.  Speaking to Autosport about his next steps, Lawson said: “I wouldn’t be happy to go back to being reserve, but obviously I know how hard it is to get into Formula One. “I understand that that can be really difficult sometimes, so obviously what will happen will happen, but these things I just haven’t really thought about too much. I’m just trying to make the most of this. To be honest, there hasn’t been a huge amount of time to discuss the future. “On what’s happened so far, it’s been pretty positive, but I guess the message for me has just been to keep my head down now and try and keep delivering until obviously things clear up, until this opportunity I have ends when Daniel comes back. It’s basically just doing a good job but keep doing the same thing. Liam Lawson has been filling in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo (Image: Getty) “Obviously I want to be in Formula One. Now I have this chance, I’m trying to do everything I can to show that I can be here. But in terms of all those discussions, those will happen after this weekend.” In spite of Lawson’s fears, the latest rumours are suggesting that Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo will be retained by the team for 2024 with Lawson more likely to get a race seat with the Faenza-based outfit in 2025.  Helmut Marko confirmed these plans to Blick ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, stating: ‘We almost have a luxury problem. Anyone who doesn’t drive in our B team next season will be the reserve and simulator driver for four cars.”