AlphaTauri’s Liam Lawson has been making waves with his standout performances for Red Bull’s sister team, as he stepped in as a replacement for the injured Daniel Ricciardo this season.
Lawson became the first Formula 1 driver in history to secure his first career points at the Singapore Grand Prix, taking P9.
However, recent reports suggest that Williams, another prominent team on the F1 grid, is not entirely satisfied with the proposed terms of loaning Lawson for the upcoming season.
Lawson, who is set to compete in his fifth consecutive Grand Prix in Qatar next weekend, has certainly turned heads with his remarkable skills behind the wheel.
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Red Bull, recognising his potential, is eager to retain his services. Lawrence Barretto, an F1 reporter, stated, “Red Bull are keen to keep hold of Lawson.”
Red Bull’s plan involves potentially loaning Lawson to Williams for a year, a decision that ultimately rests with the Williams team.
This prospect raises the possibility of Lawson replacing Logan Sargeant in the Williams lineup.
The two teams have history, with Alex Albon previously making the switch from Red Bull to Williams.
However, sources indicate that if such an arrangement were to materialise, it would likely only be for a year.
With 2 points to his name, Lawson is in P19 of the Drivers’ Standings, ahead of Sargeant who has yet to score a points finish.
Red Bull has its eyes set on having Lawson race in one of their four cars for the 2025 season, a proposition that may not be appealing to Williams.
The fear is that Williams could be left without a driver in 2025, should Red Bull recall Lawson as planned.
While this situation could be seen as good news for Logan Sargeant, who is currently the only driver on the 2023 grid with an uncertain seat for the next season, it also means that the highly impressive Lawson might have to spend another year outside of a full-time Formula 1 drive.
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The return of Daniel Ricciardo, tentatively scheduled for later this month in the USA, will mark the end of Lawson’s temporary stint with AlphaTauri.
However, the 2025 season holds promise for Lawson.
There is even speculation that he might secure a Red Bull drive, potentially alongside Max Verstappen, as suggested in reports.