“It’s something that you’re either born with or you’re not”: Liam Lawson outlines the reasoning behind his ‘unshakeable’ self-confidence
Visa Cash App RB driver Liam Lawson recently opened up on his "unshakeable" self-confidence. The New Zealander, likely in contention to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull, said he is fortunate to have immense self-belief; a trait that has played a key role in his professional career as a racing driver.
Liam Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo in VCARB mid-season, scored four points in six races combined. However, in the season finale at Abu Dhabi, the 22-year-old faced a DNF. According to several reports, Lawson's brief stint with VCARB is being assessed by Red Bull as they view him as Sergio Perez's potential replacement in all likelihood.
Leading up to the Abu Dhabi GP, Lawson spoke to Planet F1 and opened up on reasons behind his self-confidence. He said:
“I think it’s something that you’re either born with or you’re not, maybe. I mean, I feel fortunate that I was born with it, and I’ve always had that belief. I think whether you’re fighting in the midfield or at the front of the field, to be perfectly honest, it’s actually no different… the performance, as a driver, we try to achieve in a race weekend is the best possible performance that we can do."
Liam Lawson is reportedly in talks with Red Bull for a potential seat offer for the 2025 F1 season. Sergio Perez's future hinges on the impending stakeholders meeting. If the Mexican driver is shown the exit, Lawson is likely to get a promotion.
Breaking his silence on the speculations, the 22-year-old said driving alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen would be the best learning opportunity for him. However, he acknowledged that going up against a driver as fast as Verstappen won't be easy.
Liam Lawson opens up on backup plans: Focused on F1
Liam Lawson's future in F1 is hanging in the balance as VCARB and Red Bull are assessing their driver lineup for the 2025 season. In case the Visa Cash App RB decided to completely overhaul the lineup; Lawson admits not having a backup plan. He claimed that F1 has always been his sole focus.
During the same interview, he said:
"Honestly, no. But that’s also how it’s always been to me. I’ve always been focused on Formula 1 and never really had any backup plans. That’s probably where my head’s at right now is – I’m here to be a Formula 1 driver and if that were to change, I’d re-assess," he added.
Meanwhile, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was a chaotic race for Liam Lawson. During his first pit stop, the crew fitted his front left wheel loose, leading to an immediate second pit stop on the very next lap. However, disaster followed, and the VCARB driver faced a penalty for an unsafe release.
In addition, Lawson had to retire in the penultimate lap due to mechanical failure. In his final race for Red Bull's sister team, the New Zealander thus failed to see the checkered flag, and he seemed disappointed in his post-race interviews.