How Red Bull now view Liam Lawson after giving Sergio Perez vote of confidence

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Red Bull have given Sergio Perez a vote of confidence but keeping the under-pressure Mexican at the Formula 1 team also sparks questions on how they view Liam Lawson.

The team from Milton Keynes headed into F1’s summer break with decisions to make. Perez has underdelivered since signing his two-year contract extension for Red Bull in June. Daniel Ricciardo had also picked up his form at Visa Cash App RB to become a likely replacement.

But crunch talks at the team’s factory this Monday saw Red Bull elect to stick with Perez, for at least the time being. Ricciardo will also stay at RB as the Australian looks to secure a new contract for beyond 2024. Yet retaining them leaves Lawson out in the cold in F1 once again.

Red Bull see Liam Lawson as part of their future despite backing Sergio Perez

Lawson is spending the 2024 Formula 1 season as the reserve driver for Red Bull and RB. He is not driving in any category for the first time in the 22-year-old’s career. Lawson was in the Japanese Super Formula last year, along with deputising in five F1 Grand Prix for AlphaTauri.

Yet while Red Bull have snubbed Lawson for the rest of 2024, Lawrence Barretto reports the team still see the Kiwi as part of their future. Lawson has impressed Red Bull on and off the track with his reserve driver role. They also rate the Hastings native highly, despite the snub.

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

So, Red Bull will keep Lawson in reserve as they back Perez to bounce back from scoring just 28 points in the last eight rounds. Lawson will also drive the 2022 AlphaTauri on Wednesday during a filming day at Imola. But it is not a test to assess his credibility for a 2025 seat in F1.

Liam Lawson has held talks with Audi after marking a 2025 Sauber seat as his backup

Red Bull briefly placed Lawson in their junior team last season after Ricciardo broke his hand at the Dutch Grand Prix. The Kiwi impressed, as well, edging teammate Yuki Tsunoda 2-0 for points and 4-1 for Grand Prix results. Lawson took ninth in the Singapore Grand Prix in 2023.

Anthony Davidson even believed Red Bull would promote Lawson if the team decided to fire Perez. The former Super Aguri racer found the Kiwi’s stand-in displays in 2023 ‘phenomenal’ and admired how Lawson had stepped in at the deep end to replace Ricciardo yet delivered.

But Lawson’s hopes of securing a seat on the Formula 1 grid are not done and dusted. There remains the possibility that Ricciardo does not earn another contract at RB for 2025. Lawson has also held talks with Audi to discuss a deal to join Sauber next season as his backup plan.