Lawson 'wouldn't be happy' to go back to F1 reserve role in 2024

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AlphaTauri substitute Liam Lawson admits he "wouldn't be happy to go back" to a reserve role with Red Bull in 2024.

Lawson was called up at the last hour by Red Bull to replace Daniel Ricciardo following the latter's crash in FP2 at Zandvoort in which the Aussie injured his left hand.

The 21-year-old was thrown in at the deep end at Zandvoort amid mixed track conditions and with no prior knowledge of his car or the tyres.

At Monza, he qualified a creditable P12 and finished the race just outside the top-ten. But in Singapore last weekend, Lawson outpaced his AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda in qualifying, making the Q3 and lining up tenth on Sunday's grid before going on to score a remarkable P9 and his first championship points.

It's expected that this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka will be the Kiwi's final outing with AlphaTauri with Ricciardo returning to the team in Qatar.

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The latter, Tsunoda and Lawson are all in contention to fill the Faenza squad's seats in 2024. But if Lawson misses out, he'll take it on the chin but won't be happy.

"I wouldn't be happy to go back to being reserve, but obviously, I know how hard it is to get into Formula 1," said the talented 21-year-old at Suzuka on Thursday.

"And 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."

Lawson says that F1's heavy schedule in the past few weeks, with back-to-back races in Singapore and Japan, haven't left much time for Red Bull and himself to get together "to discuss his future".

"On what's happened so far, it's been pretty positive," he said.

"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.

"So, it's basically just doing a good job but keep doing the same thing.

"Obviously, I want to be in Formula 1. 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."

Taking stock of his first three races in F1, Lawson is satisfied overall with the result of his efforts and reckons he's moving forward and becoming more comfortable with each passing lap, session and race.

"There's just more with more time in the car, but for the nature of the situation, for how I've come into it, I think we've done well," he explained.

"I'm racing guys who have done 11 or 12 races in this season already, so we're definitely playing catch up.

"Every week, I get more comfortable with the car, so hopefully I go into this weekend feeling another step more comfortable.

"Compared to any other car I've driven it takes a lot more time to adjust to Formula 1."

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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.