“Who Is Liam Lawson? From Karting to Formula 1”

Who is Liam Lawson? Liam Lawson is one of New Zealand's most prominent Formula 1 drivers of the current generation. He was born on February 11, 2002 in Hastings, New Zealand. Formula 1's official profile lists Hastings as his birthplace and describes him as a driver who won races at almost every level of junior motorsport before reaching Formula 1. Lawson's route to Formula 1 began through junior racing. After progressing through karting and junior single-seater categories, he competed in German Formula 4 in 2018 and finished second in the championship. At that point, however, his future in racing was uncertain because he did not have another contract lined up. He returned to New Zealand and entered what is now known as the Formula Regional Oceania Championship, previously called the Toyota Racing Series. That decision became one of the most important moments of his career. According to Lawson himself, one major overtake during that championship caught the attention of Helmut Marko, Red Bull's longtime motorsport advisor. Marko had been watching because another Red Bull junior, Lucas Auer, was competing in the series. Lawson said that after that overtake, a Red Bull contract arrived soon afterwards. In February 2019, Lawson officially became a member of the Red Bull junior team. From there, his career moved through Formula 3, Formula 2, and Super Formula. During the same period, he also served as a test and reserve driver for Red Bull's Formula 1 operation. By this stage, Lawson was already building a reputation as a serious prospect. Formula 1's official biography describes him as a race winner at almost every level of junior motorsport, and a frontrunner in both Formula 3 and Formula 2. But reaching Formula 1 required more than strong junior results. For a long time, Lawson had to wait for a race seat. His first real Formula 1 opportunity arrived unexpectedly in 2023. During practice for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Daniel Ricciardo crashed and broke his hand. Ricciardo was unable to race, and Lawson was called up to replace him. That meant Lawson had to make his Formula 1 race debut with very little preparation. The conditions made the situation even more difficult. His first Grand Prix took place in changing and wet weather at Zandvoort. Despite the circumstances, Lawson completed the weekend and immediately began gaining valuable Formula 1 experience. His temporary replacement role continued for several races while Ricciardo recovered. Then came Singapore. The 2023 Singapore Grand Prix became one of the defining moments of Lawson's early Formula 1 career. During qualifying, Lawson reached Q3. In the process, he beat Max Verstappen to a place in the final qualifying session. Then, in the race, Lawson finished 9th and scored his first Formula 1 points. For a driver who had entered Formula 1 unexpectedly just a few weeks earlier, it was an important result. However, a strong substitute performance did not immediately produce a full-time seat. Formula 1's official biography says Lawson had already been told there would be no place for him in the 2024 lineup, with Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda continuing with the team. Ricciardo returned later in 2023, and Lawson's first run in Formula 1 ended after five Grand Prix. Lawson remained part of the Red Bull system and waited for another opportunity. That opportunity came in 2024. Late in the season, Ricciardo left the team, and Lawson returned to the Formula 1 grid. He competed in the final part of the 2024 season, as Red Bull evaluated its driver options for the future. His performances during that period were enough to keep him in Red Bull's plans. Then came the biggest promotion of his career. After Sergio Perez left Red Bull, Lawson was selected to join the senior Red Bull racing team for the start of the 2025 season. That meant Lawson would become Max Verstappen's teammate. The promotion placed Lawson in one of the most demanding seats in Formula 1, but his time there was extremely short. Lawson competed in only the opening two Grands Prix of the 2025 season for Red Bull. During those two races, he struggled to get comfortable with the RB21. Formula 1's official statistics show that he qualified behind Verstappen in both events and scored no points during that short Red Bull stint. After those two races, Red Bull changed its driver lineup. Yuki Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull from the third round of the season, while Lawson returned to Racing Bulls. That was a major change only weeks after Lawson had received his biggest career opportunity, but his Formula 1 career continued. Back at Racing Bulls, Lawson worked to rebuild his season. Formula 1 later reported that he recovered strongly after the Red Bull move and continued as a regular driver on the grid. By the end of 2025, Racing Bulls confirmed Lawson would keep his race seat for the 2026 season. Formula 1 reported that he had finished in the points seven times after returning to Racing Bulls, with a best result of fifth place in Baku during 2025. As of the 2026 season, Lawson remains a Racing Bulls driver. Formula 1's official driver page lists him with Racing Bulls and shows that his career has continued to develop beyond those early substitute appearances. What makes Liam Lawson's career unusual is how quickly his situation has changed several times. He went from having no confirmed racing contract after German Formula 4 to being noticed by Red Bull because of a single important overtake in New Zealand. He then progressed through Formula 3, Formula 2, and Super Formula. He spent time waiting as a Red Bull reserve driver. Then, an injury to Daniel Ricciardo unexpectedly gave him his Formula 1 debut. In Singapore, he scored points and reached Q3. He later returned to the grid, earned a promotion to Red Bull Racing, lost that seat after only two races, and then continued his Formula 1 career with Racing Bulls. Those are not imagined storylines. They are the documented stages of Liam Lawson's journey through the Red Bull system and into Formula 1. And his story is still continuing. From Hastings, New Zealand, to the Formula 1 grid, Liam Lawson has already experienced junior racing success, reserve driver duties, surprise opportunities, a Red Bull promotion, and a return to Racing Bulls. The next chapters of his Formula 1 career are still being written. If you enjoy Formula 1 driver stories, biographies, and F1 news, subscribe to the channel for more, and tell us in the comments, which Formula 1 driver should we cover next?