Drive to Survive shares the moment Liam Lawson learns he won’t be driving in F1 in 2024

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Drive to Survive is well known for sharing the inside scoop on some of the biggest moments in Formula 1 and one particular conversation between Christian Horner and Liam Lawson fits that bill.

AlphaTauri had a big decision to make heading into 2024 with three drivers fighting for two seats.

Season 6 of Netflix’s fantastic documentary series has shared the moment Liam Lawson found out he wouldn’t be given a full-time drive with the team for this season.

Horner tells Lawson he didn’t earn F1 drive for 2024

Formula 1 is a cut-throat sport and even some of the most talented drivers don’t make the grade when handed that opportunity.

Last season, Nyck de Vries earned a contract with AlphaTauri after impressing during a one-race cameo with Williams in 2022.

However, ten races later, he was dropped for Daniel Ricciardo after failing to adapt with the Italian team.

His replacement only managed a few races before breaking his hand, offering Liam Lawson an unexpected chance to make his Formula 1 debut.

During the five races he took part in, he scored points in Singapore, outqualified Max Verstappen that weekend and more than matched Yuki Tsunoda in the same car.

However, Christian Horner had to break the news to Liam Lawson that hadn’t done enough to secure a drive for 2024.

The young Kiwi couldn’t have done any more and Horner had a positive message for the reserve driver.

But, he’s going to have to be patient now and hope a spot opens up for him after a winter break where all 20 drivers were retained by their teams.

Lawson must be patient for next F1 opportunity

The clip in Drive to Survive shows Horner taking the 22-year-old to one side and in a private meeting, he said: “From your perspective, you’re doing a great job.

“What you’ve done so far has impressed me, it’s impressed everybody in the team.”

Horner pauses and then says: “So, they’re going to announce Daniel [Ricciardo] and Yuki [Tsunoda], it goes out in the morning. OK? Stay positive, you’ll get your chance.”

Lawson is at the front of the queue to earn a drive at Red Bull should any of their four drivers leave and Horner will now know he can rely on the youngster should he need to at any point this season.

However, he’ll want more than just to be a super sub waiting on the sidelines and if Red Bull – or RB – can’t offer him a drive in 2025, there will be several teams who might consider him a better option than what they’ve currently got.

He’s in a strong position to negotiate but will be frustrated not to be racing in any series this year.

Lawson has to hope that a year of being patient will pay off in the end.