How Liam Lawson’s Red Bull lap times compared to George Russell during Pirelli tyre test

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With just two available seats left on the 2025 Formula 1 grid, Liam Lawson will be well aware of how important each of his opportunities to drive an F1 car is.

Liam Lawson is arguably the only driver on the grid who could fill either of the vacant roles at RB or Sauber in 2025.

Audi have considered a move for Lawson for next year in Sauber’s final season before the German manufacturer arrives on the grid in their place.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

However, he no longer appears to be on their shortlist, potentially because of comments recently made by Helmut Marko.

Marko has said that Lawson will be in a race seat next year in F1 although he failed to share which team he would be driving for.

Ted Kravitz suggested at Monza that Lawson’s future could be known before Baku meaning any experience he gains between now and then could be essential to deciding which outfit he drives for in 2025.

Lawson is an option for RB and Red Bull if Marko and Christian Horner decide to part ways with Sergio Perez, while Daniel Ricciardo is yet to sign a new deal for next year.

In the meantime, Lawson has been testing the RB20 during a Pirelli tyre test alongside Mercedes driver George Russell.

A report from Planet F1 has shared how both drivers fared although it’s hard to read too much into their times.

Liam Lawson’s Red Bull Pirelli testing times compared to George Russell

Without knowing exactly how Lawson’s Red Bull car and Russell’s Mercedes were set up, comparing their times is quite difficult.

They both did a lot of running, completing more than 230 laps between them at Monza.

Russell was the faster driver, setting a 1:20.747 on the soft compound tyre.

READ MORE: Mercedes driver George Russell’s life outside F1 from net worth to height

Lawson’s best time was nearly 1.5 seconds slower, putting in a 1:22.126 across 104 laps.

The Kiwi driver will complete a second day of testing on Wednesday in the RB car which may be where he ends up in 2025.

Liam Lawson denied 2024 race seat at Williams

Race seats in Formula 1 don’t become available very often but Lawson suddenly had a chance to start racing again after the Dutch Grand Prix.

Williams had decided it was time to drop Logan Sargeant after another expensive crash at Zandvoort and failing to match the pace of teammate Alex Albon.

Lawson was linked with the Williams seat in the aftermath of Sargeant’s departure and looked like a viable candidate given his previous F1 experience.

However, Red Bull ruled out allowing Lawson to leave as they anticipated that they may need him before the end of the year.

It might have been frustrating to miss out on that chance and Franco Colapinto did an impressive on his debut at Monza.

Even though he wasn’t offered that opportunity, it looks like it won’t be long until Lawson is back on the F1 grid.