Liam Lawson Eyes Bathurst 1000 Start, Backs Childhood Friend for 2025 Win

Full-time Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson has expressed a strong desire to compete in the Bathurst 1000, potentially as a co-driver, after an exhilarating demonstration run in a Red Bull F1 car at Mount Panorama in 2023. Looking ahead to the 2025 race, Lawson is backing his childhood friend, Matt Payne, for the victory.

Why it matters:

• Lawson’s ambition to race at Bathurst highlights the circuit's iconic global appeal, even to top-tier Formula 1 drivers.
• His public support for Matt Payne underscores their deep, long-standing friendship and mutual respect, offering a unique personal angle to the competitive world of motorsport.
• A potential future appearance by Lawson in the Bathurst 1000 would be a massive draw for both F1 and Supercars fans.

The Details:

• Bathurst Ambition: Lawson, now a full-time F1 driver with Racing Bulls, confirmed to Speedcafe his desire to race at Mount Panorama. He completed a demonstration run in Red Bull's RB7 F1 car during the 2023 Bathurst 12 Hour weekend, an experience he described as "the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life."
• F1 at Mount Panorama: His 2023 demonstration marked the first time an F1 car had run at the circuit since Jenson Button and Craig Lowndes in 2011.
• Childhood Friendship: Lawson and Matt Payne grew up on the same street in Pukekohe, New Zealand, and began their karting careers together. Lawson has even credited Payne with sparking his own motorsport journey.
• Payne's Rising Career: Matt Payne is currently one of Supercars’ brightest young talents. He secured his first career win in Adelaide in 2023 and is a multiple winner in 2025, sitting third in the championship standings ahead of Bathurst. His best result at Mount Panorama was a sixth-place finish on debut in 2022.
• Mutual Support: Payne has been a vocal supporter of Lawson, publicly defending him during early-season struggles at Red Bull, stating Lawson's ability "has been proved countless times."

What's next:

While his F1 schedule currently takes precedence, Lawson's genuine interest in a co-driver role suggests a future Bathurst 1000 appearance isn't out of the question. For now, he'll be tuning in to watch the 2025 race, hoping his long-time friend Matt Payne can convert his strong form into a victory at the iconic circuit.