In terms of the following generation of motorsport stars, Liam Lawson is a person whose name is increasingly being heard by fans of Formula 1. The young New Zealander has gradually ascended the hierarchy of international racing, and his outings in Formula 1 have just enhanced his image as a driver to reckon with. However, just how many F1 races has Liam Lawson participated in, and what has he contributed to the sport so far?
Who is Liam Lawson?
Liam Lawson was born in Hastings, New Zealand, in February 2002 and started racing karts at an early age and grew to be one of the most promising motorsport talents in the country. His rise up the junior ladder has been full of impressive performances, which include Formula 4, Toyota Racing Series and FIA Formula 3 and Formula 2.
Lawson was recruited to the Red Bull Junior Team, a development program that has churned out some of the best F1 drivers, including Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Max Verstappen. His connections with Red Bull not only gave him entry into the Formula 2 championship but also into his subsequent entry into Formula 1.
Liam Lawson’s F1 debut
Liam Lawson made his Formula 1 debut in the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort. He was summoned at short notice when AlphaTauri driver Daniel Ricciardo was injured in practice in the hand. Having hardly any training, Lawson entered the car and went to qualifying and the race weekend.
The massive pressure notwithstanding, Lawson gave a calm performance. He did not make critical errors, transported the car home safely, and was mature well beyond his age. Since that time, he has been the interim replacement of Ricciardo as the Australian recovers.
How many F1 races has Liam Lawson had?
So far, Liam Lawson has competed 5 times in Formula 1. They were introduced in the 2023 season with AlphaTauri (the current RB Formula 1 Team). His races were:
- 2023 Dutch Grand Prix (Zandvoort) Formula 1 debut.
- 2023 Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
- 2023 Singapore Grand Prix (Marina Bay), where he got his first F1 points.
- 2023 Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
- 2023 Qatar Grand Prix (Lusail)
In this brief endeavor, Lawson made an impression on many people. The best performance was in Singapore, where he managed to finish ninth and achieve two championship points; this was a wonderful performance as he is still a rookie in the car with little experience.
Why Liam Lawson’s debut matters
Five races might not be a big deal, but what made the entry of Lawson into F1 special was the context. He was thrown into one of the most competitive sports in the world with hardly any time for preparation. However, he soon got used to it and always managed to get the car home in challenging situations.
His talent was also demonstrated by the fact that he could score points in Singapore. Street circuits are infamously inhumane, and Lawson was able to remain calm, prevent accidents, and make use of opportunities. This made him respected by the fans as well as by the team bosses and the other drivers.
What’s next for Liam Lawson?
This put Lawson on the radar of F1 teams, and although he went back to a reserve driver role as Daniel Ricciardo found his way back, his performances put him in the spotlight. Currently, he is an official Red Bull reserve driver, both with Red Bull Racing and the Red Bull Team.
The big question is whether he will be able to be awarded a full-time seat in the immediate future. Due to the presence of drivers such as Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, there might be chances that Lawson could be reinstated to a race seat. He has demonstrated that he can perform well when put under pressure, and this makes him competitive over most of the other reserve drivers.
Conclusion
Liam Lawson, then—how many F1 races has he had? Its response is five – all in the 2023 season on AlphaTauri. His performances, though brief, were really good and demonstrated that in the future, he can become a full-time Formula 1 driver.
Liam Lawson has the potential to be one of the stars of the new generation of Formula 1, with youth and talent, and Red Bull on his side. New Zealand and other fans all over the world are waiting to know when he will have another big opportunity on the grid.