Visa Cash App RB CEO tells Liam Lawson what he must do ‘even if we don’t like it’ ahead of F1 return

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Liam Lawson returns to the Formula 1 grid at the United States Grand Prix to replace Daniel Ricciardo and Visa Cash App RB CEO Peter Bayer is sure of what he must do.

The Faenza outfit will run a different driver line-up for the final six rounds of the year as Red Bull want to see how Lawson fares beside Yuki Tsunoda in view of next season. A seat for RB is empty but one at the main team may become vacant with Sergio Perez’s future uncertain.

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that Lawson and Tsunoda are in a shootout to replace Perez, should the team elect to replace the Mexican. The Milton Keynes outfit will use the final rounds of the campaign to decide who drives for which team in 2025.

Peter Bayer urges Liam Lawson to work on his patience, even if it hurts Visa Cash App RB

Lawson briefly drove for the Faenza team whilst named as AlphaTauri in 2023 after Ricciardo broke a hand in practice for the Dutch Grand Prix. But despite impressing over the 22-year-old’s five appearances, the New Zealander returned to his reserve driver role for this season.

Visa Cash App RB CEO Bayer admires the effort that Lawson has since put in to prepare for a possible return to Formula 1 whilst watching from the sidelines. He has told RacingNews365 that the Kiwi has done ‘all the right things’, such as improving his muscle strength, this term.

READ MORE: Who is Visa Cash App RB driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Bayer appreciates all of the effort that Lawson has put in to prepare to return to F1 from the US Grand Prix. But the 2022 Formula 2 title contender is still not the finished product. Bayer particularly believes Lawson still has to work on his patience, even if it might hurt RB’s races.

“It’s about growing as a young man,” Bayer shared. “Learning that patience can be a quality, even if we don’t like it. Like the other day, we had a report from his trainer that he has done a tremendous job this year in building up muscle strength, which he didn’t have last year.

“So, he’s significantly stronger now. He’s doing all the right things. And that’s great for us to see that you have a young man who’s taking this responsibility extremely seriously and he’s not misguided.”

Liam Lawson may not have the time to be patient if he is to earn a Red Bull seat for 2025

Lawson had to be patient on the sidelines waiting for Red Bull to decide he merited another chance in Formula 1 – which now comes with Visa Cash App RB at the expense of Ricciardo. But he may not be able to also be patient on the track if Lawson wants a 2025 Red Bull seat.

Despite Bayer believing it is the area Lawson should work on, he only has six Grand Prix and three F1 Sprint events to convince Red Bull that he is their best option to share their garage with Max Verstappen next year. If he is too patient on the circuit, it might be determinantal.

Marko stated that Red Bull kept Perez in their car this summer as he was a known quantity compared to the alternatives in Lawson or Ricciardo. So, Lawson must use his time for Visa Cash App RB this season to convince Red Bull that he is worth making the change for 2025.