Guenther Steiner compares Liam Lawson to current two-time Formula 1 race winner

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Liam Lawson will climb into a Visa Cash App cockpit for the first time as a full-time driver in just two weeks.

Over a year on from the last Formula 1 race he competed in, the Kiwi takes Daniel Ricciardo’s place on the grid for the second year in a row, albeit in different circumstances this time.

Some will make the case that this move should’ve been made permanent a long time ago, but Lawson must now turn his attention to presenting his best hand in the final six races of 2024.

He has no guarantee of a drive for next season, and still has to prove to the team that he is the best option on a long-term basis.

Liam Lawson is ‘a bit like’ Oscar Piastri according to Guenther Steiner

Guenther Steiner is a man with an eye for talent, having led Haas and their Formula 1 operations for nearly a decade.

He had to recruit and sign drivers, deciding to place two young rookies in Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher behind the wheel in 2021.

Speaking in a column on the Formula 1 website, he mentioned that Lawson reminds him of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

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“Liam has been very patient waiting on the bench – and now the wait has been worth it,” he said. “He’s done a lot of sim work, he knows the team very well and has those five races under his belt from last year.

“He’s a smart guy, he’s a bit like Oscar Piastri. He waits for his opportunity, doesn’t open his mouth, is not critical about things, just gets on and learns about things. I think he’s well prepared to come in.”

What to expect from Lawson’s VCARB foray

Lawson hasn’t had much track time in this year’s machinery and it might take him a bit of time to get used to the car as a result of that.

He will be expected to assist the team in their chase of sixth in the constructors’ championship, which they currently hold with a three-point advantage over Haas.

Based on recent performance, that could soon swing the other way, meaning that the team cannot afford Lawson too much time to get up to speed.

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Pressure will be mounting on his new teammate Yuki Tsunoda if he is able to come in and match him from the off.

In a dream scenario, he performs so well that he receives a promotion to Red Bull to replace Sergio Perez for 2025.