How Liam Lawson feels about Red Bull denying him a Williams seat for the rest of 2024

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Liam Lawson won’t be racing for Williams this year after James Vowles called on Franco Colapinto instead. Vowles held discussions with Red Bull over the reserve driver but they couldn’t reach an agreement.

After Logan Sargeant crashed heavily in the final practice session ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday, Vowles decided to seek a replacement for the final nine races. Lawson was near the top of his list, and he enquired about a short-term loan deal.

However, Red Bull wanted to recall Lawson if they needed him before Abu Dhabi. Sergio Perez is at risk of losing his seat, as is Daniel Ricciardo to a lesser extent.

Understandably, Vowles saw this as too great a risk. He could have found himself without a driver at short notice if Christian Horner opted for a reshuffle.

Mick Schumacher was also a candidate, but he’s due to race in the World Endurance Championship for Alpine this weekend. In the end, Williams opted for the most straightforward solution by promoting academy driver Colapinto.

The 25-year-old Argentine has been racing in F2 this season but he was able to escape his contract with MP Motorsport. He’ll be on the grid from the upcoming Italian GP until the arrival of Carlos Sainz in the winter.

Liam Lawson understands Red Bull’s stance on Williams move

Speaking on the Green Flag Podcast, journalist Thomas Maher said Lawson was ‘on board’ with Red Bull’s stance. Much as he’ll be frustrated to be watching races from the garage, he knows he doesn’t have any long-term prospects at Williams.

With Sainz and Albon signed, Vowles’ line-up is set for the next couple of years at least. Even if he impressed for the Grove outfit, there was no prospect of earning a full-time race seat.

A strong stint alongside Albon could theoretically have improved his Red Bull prospects. But he remains confident that they’ll give him a seat.

Helmut Marko said prior to the Dutch GP that Red Bull would find Lawson a drive. Horner subsequently clarified that a loan move could be an option, but that would now be to Audi in 2025 rather than Williams this year.

Maher said: “There is the sticking point of Red Bull might want to pull Liam back. And I think Liam is quite on board with that. At the end of the day, he knows there’s not a way in. Neither Albon nor Sainz are risks at Williams. He knows there’s no room at the inn. But there is room at the inn within the Red Bull camp.”

Red Bull were worried about how Liam Lawson would fare at two tracks

Lawson has experience of emergency call-ups. During last year’s Dutch GP weekend, Red Bull turned to him after Daniel Ricciardo broke his hand in practice.

That would lead to a five-race stint where he was so impressive that a 2025 seat seems almost inevitable. But the team still had concerns about letting him join Williams.

Red Bull were worried about Lawson in Baku and Singapore, two street circuits scheduled for next month. In an unfamiliar car, he’d be more likely to have an accident that could damage his confidence.

The comparison between Albon and Lawson would have been fascinating. After all, the former has previously raced alongside Max Verstappen, but he endured a bruising 18 months before he was dropped.