Liam Lawson has been making waves as a stand-in driver for AlphaTauri.
Former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok believes that Lawson could be a strong contender for a seat at Williams in the upcoming season.
Lawson stepped into Daniel Ricciardo’s seat at AlphaTauri on very short notice when the Australian driver suffered a hand injury at Zandvoort.
Despite the unexpected opportunity, the 21-year-old New Zealander has impressed alongside his teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
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While Tsunoda has faced his share of misfortune, Lawson’s performance has caught the attention of Formula 1 enthusiasts.
Notably, Lawson secured his first-ever Formula 1 points with an impressive 11th-place finish at Monza, a result that was upgraded to points at the Singapore Grand Prix.
One of the standout moments for Lawson was his qualification for Q3 in Singapore, a feat that saw him outperform both of Red Bull’s experienced drivers and even best Max Verstappen in the top 10.
Lawson then translated his strong qualifying performance into valuable points during the demanding Singapore race weekend.
These noteworthy performances have already sparked discussions about Lawson potentially securing a full-time seat at AlphaTauri for the next season.
However, with Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo also in the mix for that team, former F1 driver Karun Chandhok suggests that Williams should explore the option of signing Lawson to join Alex Albon for the 2024 season.
Williams’ Team Principal, James Vowles, has made it clear that Logan Sargeant, the American rookie, needs to perform well to retain his seat for the following season.
In contrast, Albon has firmly established himself as the team’s leader at Williams this year.
Given the uncertainty surrounding Lawson’s future and Ricciardo’s expected return to AlphaTauri once he recovers from his injuries, Chandhok believes that Lawson could be a suitable partner for Albon at Williams.
Chandhok expressed his views on the matter, stating, “If I was Williams, I would definitely be looking at Liam Lawson.
“You’ve got to have the conversation, haven’t you?
“Because, you know, Albon’s out-qualified Sargeant on every occasion, he has scored all the points so far for Williams.
“If you are Williams, you should be shopping around, and Liam Lawson has put himself on the market in a very good way.”
While Lawson is expected to continue filling in for Ricciardo at Suzuka this weekend, his long-term plans remain uncertain.
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When asked about his prospects for the 2024 season, Lawson admitted, “I have no idea, honestly.
“It’s tricky to get a full-time seat in this sport.
“But like I said, rather than looking at all those external things, it’s for me just focusing on every session, trying to maximise each time I’m in the car and try what I can.”