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The announcement of Liam Lawson’s return to the grid with RB as Daniel Ricciardo’s replacement is an opportunity to recall how the young Kiwi’s journey to Formula 1 is one marked by immense sacrifice, perseverance, and a touch of fate.
From his humble beginnings in faraway New Zealand to the bright lights of the Formula 1 grid, Lawson's trajectory is a tale of dedication fueled by the unwavering support of his family and a burning ambition to succeed against the odds.
For any aspiring driver, the road to Formula 1 is a daunting one, but for someone hailing from the Land of the Long White Cloud, it’s even more challenging.
Thousands of miles away from the motorsport hubs of Europe, Lawson’s early years in racing were defined by the extraordinary efforts of his family to keep his dream alive.
The financial strain of karting, a critical steppingstone for any future racing career, often becomes a barrier too high for many. For Lawson, however, his parents were determined to make sure that wasn’t the case.
"My parents and my whole family really gave a lot, especially in the early years through go-karts," Lawson recalled on a recent Red Bull Talking Bull podcast.
"My parents sold their house so that I could keep racing. It's massive. They gave absolutely everything for me to be able to race, even just go-karts because it's so expensive."
This kind of sacrifice is a testament to the all-consuming nature of motorsport. Not only did Lawson’s family have to grapple with the logistical challenges of keeping him on the racetrack, but the cost of equipment, travel, and competition was often overwhelming.
Yet, despite the hardships, there was never a moment of hesitation from the young driver or his family
"I didn't finish high school or anything. Honestly, I was just excited to be able to go and chase my dream. And there are always hard parts about it, but there was never a question of whether it was too difficult and I wanted to go home."
With his family’s sacrifices and a fierce determination driving him, Lawson took the leap to Europe, the mecca for budding racers, and kicked off his adventures with a runner-up spot in the 2018 German Formula 4 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing.
"Being from New Zealand, trying to get the money to compete overseas is really, really hard," Lawson explained.
"So, between a group of amazing people that have been behind me, sponsors and investors, we set up the structure to get enough money to go to Europe and do a season and try and get recognised by a junior team, because without it, there was no chance to get a Formula 1.”
But the financial pressures intensified when he returned home during the off-season. A stint in the Toyota Racing Series was next up on his agenda, but there was nothing on the horizon thereafter.
Finding sponsorship and support in a place as geographically isolated as New Zealand was no easy feat. As a result, doubt began to creep in, threatening to derail the young driver’s career before it even had a chance to take off.
"I had a good season, but I didn't have any call-ups from any teams,” he said. “And then I just did this championship in New Zealand's over the off-season, with no plan of what I was doing in 2019.
"As a kid being into Formula 1, I would watch this series every single year and I dreamed of driving it. And to me, it was like the Formula 1 of racing at the time.
Despite the challenges, Lawson delivered strong performances on track, although the Toyota series provided only a temporary reprieve as 2019 loomed.
It was during this uncertain period that fate intervened. Unbeknownst to Lawson, Helmut Marko, the head of Red Bull's driver development program, had been watching his performances as part of his scrutiny of Red Bull Junior Lucas Auer.
"I guess Helmut was watching because of Lucas and I had a really good first weekend," Lawson remembered.
"When I raced in F4 in Europe, Jack Doohan was a Red Bull junior at the time and we tested together somewhere. I remember seeing him walking around in his Red Bull suit and I remember thinking how cool it would be to be a Red Bull junior."
In a moment that would ultimately change the course of his career, Marko extended an offer that gave Lawson the lifeline he so desperately needed.
"I got the call-up after that first weekend in New Zealand, I found out one or two days after the weekend. I was sitting in a cafe—I remember exactly where I was sitting. I got told and it was obviously pretty emotional. I basically got picked up at the perfect time and it saved my career."
Liam Lawson’s inclusion in the Red Bull junior programme allowed the young talent to hone his skills in the FIA F3 and F2 Championships, while a stint in the German DTM series with a Ferrari GT3 car further expanded his racing experience.
A second year in F2 with Carlin in 2022 saw Lawson finish third in the championship behind Felipe Drugovich and Theo Pourchaire, a result that secured his official role within the Red Bull Formula 1 family as a test and reserve driver.
In late summer 2023, Lawson became Red Bull’s obvious choice to replace an injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri, stepping in at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
Thrown into the deep end, the Kiwi remained undaunted, exceeding expectations during his five-race stint, highlighted by an impressive ninth-place finish in the notoriously demanding Singapore Grand Prix.
Now, as Ricciardo steps aside once more, history seems to be repeating itself. Lawson faces another pivotal moment as he takes on the final six races of the 2024 season – an opportunity to prove, once and for all, that he truly belongs in Formula 1.
