AlphaTauri chief shares what’s really impressed him about ‘amazing’ Liam Lawson

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AlphaTauri CEO Peter Bayer has been talking about new driver Liam Lawson and how he’s adapted to his new role within Formula 1.

Bayer was speaking to Planet F1 after taking the job at F1’s bottom team earlier in the season.

It’s not been an easy season for Red Bull’s sister team.

There were high hopes for Nyck de Vries when he joined Yuki Tsunoda at the start of the year.

His impressive cameo for Williams at Monza last season earned him a drive in the Red Bull setup.

However, he managed just 10 races before being replaced by Daniel Ricciardo.

The popular Australian only raced twice before breaking his hand in a freak accident at Zandvoort as he took avoiding action to prevent a crash with Oscar Piastri.

AlphaTauri turned to Liam Lawson to fill Ricciardo’s shoes and Peter Bayer has been singing his praises.

The young Kiwi narrowly missed out on the points in Italy last weekend.

With the most gruelling race on the calendar coming up this weekend, Lawson will hope to go one better in Singapore.

AlphaTauri boss Bayer impressed with Lawson

Speaking about the 21-year-old rookie, Bayer said: “Liam has been amazing, honestly.

“What he did is, I think… I have a huge amount of respect for him and his achievements here in the paddock. Zandvoort was probably the worst possible baptism that you can possibly have, you know?

“I mean, raining, the track in Zandvoort was wet then dry, right? It was everything that you possibly would not wish for. Still, he did a very good job.

“Honestly, what I really like about Liam is how professionally he’s approaching the task and he’s very calm in the car. He will get feedback from the engineers and, lap after lap, he will improve. It’s very impressive, really.”

Lawson will hope he has done enough to convince Bayer and the other chiefs at AlphaTauri to give him a full-time role in F1.

When Ricciardo returns from injury it’s hard to not see him immediately partnering Tsunoda.

However, when the end of the season comes around, Lawson will hope he’s done enough to convince one team on the grid to give him a seat for 2024.

Williams has yet to confirm Logan Sargeant’s seat for next year which may be his best way into the sport.

Although as last season’s F2 champion Felipe Drugovich has proved, getting on the grid is easier said than done.