Will Lawson leave Super Formula soon? 'Goal is Formula One'

Liam Lawson is a Red Bull Racing junior currently racing in Japanese Super Formula. After a spell in Formula 2, the New Zealander has been sent to the other side of the world by Helmut Marko to race. Here that Lawson is doing very well, as the Red Bull junior leads the championship with three races to go, but whether Lawson will also be active in the Japanese racing class next year remains to be seen.

Lawson follows Gasly

Last season, Lawson finished third in the Formula 2 championship, but a spot in Formula 1 was not yet there. So Red Bull Racing's advisor decided to stable the New Zealand driver in Japan. Super Formula is highly competitive and the bolides are perhaps closest to Formula 1 cars. Pierre Gasly also raced in the Japanese class before the Frenchman entered Formula 1, Lawson following the same path.

Lawson wants to go to Formula One

Lawson tells Speedcafe.com he does not think it is a great idea to race in Japan for another year. "It depends on how the season goes. It depends on where I finish in the championship this year. To be honest, I think if I were fighting at the front, like we are currently, at the end of the season, I feel like I’ve gotten everything out of it. My goal is Formula 1."

That Lawson would like to make the switch to Formula 1 is of course understandable, but this does seem difficult with the current situation. Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen will continue to drive for Red Bull in 2024, so there does not seem to be a seat available at AlphaTauri. Yuki Tsunoda does not yet have a contract for next season, but with the Japanese driver's good performance in 2023, this seems a matter of time. The other AlphaTauri driver, Daniel Ricciardo, was already preferred to Lawson after De Vries' dismissal, making it unlikely that the Australian will have to make way for the New Zealander in 2024. So all Red Bull seats, unfortunately for Lawson, seem to be occupied in 2024.