'Red Bull junior Liam Lawson heading for Japanese series'

At Red Bull Racing, the pieces of the puzzle are slowly starting to fall together. Earlier on Wednesday, the Austrian team confirmed the return of Daniel Ricciardo as third driver. The Australian is the first reserve should Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez drop out for any reason.

Red Bull also has Dennis Hauger and Liam Lawson available to do testing work within the team or, for example, drive free practice as a rookie. Hauger will drive in Formula 2 with MP Motorsport's team next season. Lawson will in principle no longer compete in this series.

Step back

The driver from New Zealand would initially be Red Bull's regular reserve driver. With the arrival of Ricciardo, he seems to have to step down after all. The news that Lawson is set to drive in Japan, can be prove that Red Bull does not see Lawson as the temporary replacement for Verstappen or Perez. The junior would be racing in Super Formula, the Australian Speedcafe. This class can be compared to Formula 2.

Super Formula, which is very popular in Japan, has a season that is fairly synchronised with the European part of Formula 1. Not all Grands Prix and Super Formula races overlap in 2023, but it would be quite a drain on his physique for Lawson to travel halfway around the world every week. No doubt Lawson will regularly attend Grands Prix, although with Ricciardo, an experienced replacement is thus at hand.