Lawson enjoys wild F1 ride around 'just crazy' Mount Panorama

©RedBull

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©RedBull

Liam Lawson went for a wild ride last weekend in Bathurst where the Red Bull reserve treated local fans to a series of F1 demo laps around scenic Mount Panorama.

Strapped in Sebastian Vettel's 2011 title-winning RB7, Lawson took to the daunting circuit as the opening act of the Bathurst 12 Hours weekend.

Fans were overwhelmed by the sight and sound of the V8-pwored machine, but a prudent Lawson made no real effort to tackle the benchmark F1 time set by Jenson Button back in 2011 onboard a McLaren F1 car.

Lawson was over 10 seconds adrift from Button's record, but from inside the Red Bull, the Kiwi felt like he had a blast.

"Just crazy," an ecstatic Lawson commented. "Just really crazy.

"I did one lap in the safety car this morning to get an eye for this place. Doing it in a Formula 1 car is completely crazy.

"The first lap I was honestly so nervous, but after that it actually felt really good.

"It's completely flat through the chase, braking at 120, 130 metres. The car handled the bumps really well. Over the top it was really fast.

"It's the most special thing [I've done]. Doing an official F1 session, free practice last year, is the biggest achievement that I've had. But doing something like this in a car that I grew up watching is more special.

"Pure fun. It was cool."

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.