Liam Lawson says fascinated with auditioning for a Purple Bull seat in 2025 is “very far” from his focus, which is just on assembly the efficiency standards set by RB on his Formulation 1 return.
The New Zealander will return to an F1 seat in Austin after Daniel Ricciardo was let go by RB following the Singapore Grand Prix, with Purple Bull searching for to evaluate his efficiency versus Yuki Tsunoda because it considers its driver choices for the long run.
Lawson was touted as a possible substitute for Sergio Perez earlier this 12 months, though Purple Bull determined to place its religion in Perez lifting himself out of a mid-season hunch.
Requested if there have been any indications from Purple Bull over what Lawson wanted to do to place himself within the body for a Purple Bull drive, probably as early as 2025, he replied that he was solely centered on the efficiency targets he had been set.
“I imply, I believe [that thinking about a Red Bull drive is] very far forward, truthfully,” Lawson mentioned. “The goal or the aim that is been set out is similar because it’s all the time been since I used to be 17 and joined this system.
“It is all performance-based, and that is principally how they’re going to be taking a look at it. Clearly, Yuki’s finished an excellent job the final couple of years, and particularly this 12 months.
“He is the benchmark for them to match me towards; he is the one one in the identical automotive as me. So I will be immediately in contrast with him.
“I assume the aim or the expectation from them is for me to compete alongside him. When it comes to the place that units me out for subsequent 12 months or sooner or later, I’ve completely no thought. However that is the goal that is been set out.”
Liam Lawson, Reserve Driver, Visa Money App RB F1 Workforce
Photograph by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Photos
Lawson mentioned that there have been no particular factors targets set out that he wanted to realize, however he felt that he wanted to interrupt into the highest 10 rapidly to assist RB cement its declare for sixth within the constructors’ championship.
He added that the character of the Austin F1 dash weekend was a “troublesome” solution to return, given his lack of expertise on the circuit and the restricted apply working accessible to him.
“[The break has been about] simply making ready as a lot as attainable; it is a troublesome time to come back into the season, clearly with a dash weekend this weekend, new observe, finish of the season, so I am simply attempting to be as prepared as attainable.
“I believe it isn’t so simple as a place or like ‘that is the place I need to be’. I believe it is scoring factors primarily for myself, as a result of what the group’s going to evaluate me on is how I carry out, and one of the best ways to try this is rating factors.
“And likewise for the group, combating for P6 within the championship as effectively. I am going to principally be attempting to get to the factors as quickly as attainable, for me that is the aim.”
