Liam Lawson Recalls 'Fear and Pressure' of Bruising F1 Debut at Dutch GP
Why it matters: Liam Lawson's candid reflection on his challenging F1 debut reveals the immense pressure young drivers face, offering insight into his journey from a chaotic start to a promising future with Racing Bulls. His experience highlights the brutal demands of the sport, especially for a rookie thrust into difficult conditions.
The big picture: Lawson, now confirmed to race full-time for Racing Bulls in 2025, recently looked back at his emergency call-up at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. He stepped in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo, and that weekend marked his entry into Formula 1. His honesty sheds light on the mental and physical toll of such an unexpected debut.
The debut details:
- Lawson was drafted in after Daniel Ricciardo suffered a broken hand during Friday's second free practice session.
- He described the weekend at Zandvoort as "chaotic" and "not a fun experience," dominated by "fear and pressure."
- In challenging wet weather, he qualified 20th on the grid.
- Despite the difficulties, he finished the race two places ahead of his then-teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.
- Lawson admitted it was "very much survival, trying to learn everything I could" and "a very tough weekend."
What he's saying:
- "My memories of that weekend... most of them were just fear and pressure. It was just a very tough weekend. I think I was very relieved to get through it. And I learned a lot from it going into the next few races that I had. But it wasn't a fun weekend."
- "Honestly I didn't enjoy it. It was so chaotic. Qualifying was very tricky. The race was... even trickier. So it was very much survival, trying to learn everything I could."
Looking ahead:
- Reflecting on his current performance in the 2024 season, Lawson states, "The speed's been there most of the year, I would say. It's just been consistency that's been coming recently."
- He acknowledges the challenge of maintaining form in F1 but feels "pretty good" about his and the team's performance, noting, "The car's been fast."
- Lawson is set to race full-time for Racing Bulls in the 2025 season, carrying the lessons from his intense debut into his future in Formula 1.