1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from newstalk edb. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:16,147 Speaker 2: Liam Lawson is going to replace Daniel Ricardo at the 4 00:00:16,227 --> 00:00:17,707 Speaker 2: Racing Balls Formula one team. 5 00:00:17,747 --> 00:00:19,387 Speaker 3: I'd tell you what, He's still going to try and 6 00:00:19,387 --> 00:00:22,147 Speaker 3: make this move stick as well. Leclaire drifts out and 7 00:00:22,347 --> 00:00:26,307 Speaker 3: to the wide right hand side. Lawson slot's right backings 8 00:00:26,307 --> 00:00:29,427 Speaker 3: behind him. He's got trs. He's coming down the inside. 9 00:00:29,507 --> 00:00:33,147 Speaker 3: Liam Lawson and is f one TV for Alfatari gets 10 00:00:33,147 --> 00:00:36,467 Speaker 3: past charl Leclair and he is up. It's a fifteenth place, 11 00:00:37,267 --> 00:00:39,827 Speaker 3: but this boy has got an awful lot of potential. 12 00:00:39,907 --> 00:00:43,947 Speaker 2: He'll read Ball obviously agree because Liam Lawsmore race alongside 13 00:00:44,027 --> 00:00:46,427 Speaker 2: Yukus SONODA for the rest of the twenty twenty four 14 00:00:46,547 --> 00:00:49,907 Speaker 2: season that includes nine races at six venues, six four 15 00:00:49,947 --> 00:00:53,147 Speaker 2: Grand Prix and three sprints. He steps up from his 16 00:00:53,307 --> 00:00:56,707 Speaker 2: reserve role which he's held since twenty twenty two, and 17 00:00:56,947 --> 00:01:00,227 Speaker 2: we'll race for the first time this year anyway at 18 00:01:00,227 --> 00:01:03,587 Speaker 2: the United States Grand Prix in Austin in three weeks 19 00:01:03,587 --> 00:01:06,467 Speaker 2: from now. Motor Sport writer and analyst Eric Thomson and 20 00:01:06,507 --> 00:01:09,067 Speaker 2: joins us to unpack this. Eric, this felt like it 21 00:01:09,147 --> 00:01:12,187 Speaker 2: was coming. It had been widely reported that this was 22 00:01:12,227 --> 00:01:15,067 Speaker 2: on the cards, but how significant is it now that 23 00:01:15,107 --> 00:01:17,867 Speaker 2: it is one hundred percent confirmed for Liam Lawson? 24 00:01:19,147 --> 00:01:24,427 Speaker 4: I think for Liam's perspective, his mum and dad, you know, 25 00:01:24,547 --> 00:01:28,187 Speaker 4: his management team, and you know all the people that 26 00:01:28,267 --> 00:01:30,987 Speaker 4: have supported him and backed him, and you know Rode 27 00:01:31,027 --> 00:01:33,627 Speaker 4: in Cars amongst them all, I think it's a great 28 00:01:33,667 --> 00:01:36,987 Speaker 4: relief that they can actually stand up now, Pinty and 29 00:01:37,067 --> 00:01:40,667 Speaker 4: actually go, yes, the contract has been signed. We're locked 30 00:01:40,707 --> 00:01:43,627 Speaker 4: and loaded till the end of the year. And now 31 00:01:43,667 --> 00:01:47,227 Speaker 4: it's basically everything is in Liam's court now. You know, 32 00:01:47,307 --> 00:01:49,147 Speaker 4: he and the team have got him there. He signed 33 00:01:49,147 --> 00:01:52,027 Speaker 4: the contract, red ball of gone. Yep, we've got faith 34 00:01:52,067 --> 00:01:55,027 Speaker 4: in you. You did a great job last year. I mean, god, 35 00:01:55,027 --> 00:01:58,067 Speaker 4: he got in the points last year and so this 36 00:01:58,147 --> 00:02:01,867 Speaker 4: is him. It's up to him now to actually make 37 00:02:01,907 --> 00:02:05,667 Speaker 4: the most of this opportunity to make sure that he 38 00:02:05,747 --> 00:02:08,387 Speaker 4: gets a p imminent seat for twenty twenty five. 39 00:02:09,107 --> 00:02:11,107 Speaker 2: For a guy who's used to going at high speed, 40 00:02:11,467 --> 00:02:13,627 Speaker 2: how challenging would it have been for him to be 41 00:02:13,667 --> 00:02:14,667 Speaker 2: a bit patient around this. 42 00:02:15,987 --> 00:02:16,107 Speaker 5: Ah. 43 00:02:16,467 --> 00:02:18,467 Speaker 4: There's one thing that some people who have asked me 44 00:02:18,507 --> 00:02:20,107 Speaker 4: in the past about, you know, what do you think 45 00:02:20,227 --> 00:02:24,747 Speaker 4: Set's Liam laws some above others. It's his steely reserve. 46 00:02:24,787 --> 00:02:29,307 Speaker 4: And also he's incredibly analytic and doesn't make rash decision. 47 00:02:29,347 --> 00:02:32,587 Speaker 4: But he's also quite honest and self aware. If we 48 00:02:32,707 --> 00:02:36,027 Speaker 4: remember from last year based funny enough at the Singapore 49 00:02:36,067 --> 00:02:37,867 Speaker 4: Grand Prix, when it was announced that he would not 50 00:02:37,947 --> 00:02:40,907 Speaker 4: be getting the drive, he basically came out and said, hey, 51 00:02:40,947 --> 00:02:43,347 Speaker 4: I can't quite figure this out. I'm quick air and 52 00:02:43,467 --> 00:02:46,467 Speaker 4: out qualified the other drive in the team, and yet 53 00:02:46,507 --> 00:02:49,227 Speaker 4: he gets signed up. I'm a little bit puzzled. So 54 00:02:49,427 --> 00:02:52,627 Speaker 4: you know that raw emotion means he's not a machine, 55 00:02:53,187 --> 00:02:56,267 Speaker 4: but it's also he sat back and thought, okay, you 56 00:02:56,347 --> 00:02:58,587 Speaker 4: know I've got off as I've got this, but I 57 00:02:58,707 --> 00:03:01,667 Speaker 4: look at my long term future like he's really quite 58 00:03:01,747 --> 00:03:04,387 Speaker 4: analytical and he's got good support of course pinting, but 59 00:03:04,507 --> 00:03:07,187 Speaker 4: it's that analytical look at it. What long term would 60 00:03:07,187 --> 00:03:09,707 Speaker 4: be my best option? Do I go to a struggling 61 00:03:09,787 --> 00:03:12,627 Speaker 4: team like a hass or somebody like that that maybe 62 00:03:12,747 --> 00:03:15,307 Speaker 4: don't have the drive and the pedigree that Red Bull have. 63 00:03:16,707 --> 00:03:19,347 Speaker 4: And he just hung in there and basically you know 64 00:03:19,427 --> 00:03:22,947 Speaker 4: they've come good. They said, right here we go, here's 65 00:03:22,987 --> 00:03:25,227 Speaker 4: your opportunity. That's up to you now. 66 00:03:25,827 --> 00:03:27,747 Speaker 2: So this is for the remainder of twenty twenty four. 67 00:03:27,787 --> 00:03:31,187 Speaker 2: As I mentioned, what will he have to do to 68 00:03:32,107 --> 00:03:34,547 Speaker 2: make sure that he retains that seat in twenty twenty five? 69 00:03:35,827 --> 00:03:39,227 Speaker 4: Out qualify and finish in front of Sonoda, his teammate. 70 00:03:39,427 --> 00:03:42,187 Speaker 4: It's like in anything anything where you've got teammates, especially 71 00:03:42,587 --> 00:03:46,187 Speaker 4: in motorsport, the very first person you want to be 72 00:03:46,747 --> 00:03:49,307 Speaker 4: regardless of what the drivers say, how will they get 73 00:03:49,347 --> 00:03:51,347 Speaker 4: on with their teammates and how they have fun afterwards 74 00:03:51,387 --> 00:03:54,627 Speaker 4: and stuff like that, you want to beat your teammate, 75 00:03:55,027 --> 00:03:56,947 Speaker 4: buying without a shadow of doubt, to prove that you 76 00:03:57,147 --> 00:03:59,947 Speaker 4: are the one that they should continue and vesting in. 77 00:04:00,387 --> 00:04:02,947 Speaker 4: So that's his thing. And also to keep the car clean, 78 00:04:03,467 --> 00:04:06,507 Speaker 4: don't break it, bend it, don't cause it, you know, 79 00:04:06,627 --> 00:04:10,067 Speaker 4: added financial grief for teams, bring it home straight. But 80 00:04:10,267 --> 00:04:13,867 Speaker 4: also even if he can't outqualify Snardo, it's to finish 81 00:04:13,907 --> 00:04:15,347 Speaker 4: in front of him, all right. 82 00:04:15,467 --> 00:04:18,587 Speaker 2: So this is Red Bull Racing's second team. Effectively, Max 83 00:04:18,667 --> 00:04:21,667 Speaker 2: for Stappen Sergio Pierre is the top combo at the moment. 84 00:04:22,227 --> 00:04:25,627 Speaker 2: Is there any circumstances under which Liam could replace Peers 85 00:04:25,987 --> 00:04:29,147 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five if laws And races well for 86 00:04:29,187 --> 00:04:31,547 Speaker 2: the rest of twenty twenty four, is that a possible. 87 00:04:31,187 --> 00:04:35,587 Speaker 4: Outcome, Absolutely, and I think Helmut Mark and even Christian 88 00:04:35,627 --> 00:04:39,427 Speaker 4: Horner you know, had come to agree that for the future, 89 00:04:39,907 --> 00:04:42,707 Speaker 4: so you know, for somebody with Max's you know, as 90 00:04:43,107 --> 00:04:44,907 Speaker 4: you know, if the staff and stays in the sport, 91 00:04:44,987 --> 00:04:48,067 Speaker 4: even if he doesn't to invest in, Lawson does really 92 00:04:48,107 --> 00:04:50,987 Speaker 4: well and in the rest of the season, he'll be 93 00:04:51,067 --> 00:04:54,307 Speaker 4: setting himself up for a box seat drive for the 94 00:04:54,387 --> 00:04:57,227 Speaker 4: main Red Bull Racing team, you know, either alongside Max 95 00:04:57,267 --> 00:04:59,907 Speaker 4: for Stappen, and if Max does decide he's had enough 96 00:04:59,947 --> 00:05:02,507 Speaker 4: because he's not allowed to swear anymore or anything like that, 97 00:05:03,747 --> 00:05:07,307 Speaker 4: which is a joke, that is, But anyway, other discussion, pointy, 98 00:05:07,387 --> 00:05:10,027 Speaker 4: But the thing is, if you know, here's the future 99 00:05:10,227 --> 00:05:12,707 Speaker 4: either way for that team, and that's what they're sort 100 00:05:12,747 --> 00:05:15,787 Speaker 4: of looking at and investing in, is to think Max 101 00:05:15,827 --> 00:05:18,067 Speaker 4: will need a teammate because I doubt that Perez will 102 00:05:18,067 --> 00:05:22,027 Speaker 4: be signed up for next year. So you know, there's 103 00:05:22,027 --> 00:05:24,387 Speaker 4: a vacant seat there. There's a couple of other juniors 104 00:05:25,027 --> 00:05:29,427 Speaker 4: floating around, but Lawson could move into that seat, and 105 00:05:29,587 --> 00:05:32,627 Speaker 4: I actually truly think that's their plan. Red Bull is 106 00:05:32,747 --> 00:05:34,667 Speaker 4: to get them into the main seat and then to 107 00:05:34,747 --> 00:05:37,467 Speaker 4: get another youngster that they've got on the wings into 108 00:05:37,867 --> 00:05:39,147 Speaker 4: the junior team, shall we call it. 109 00:05:39,547 --> 00:05:42,307 Speaker 2: I've heard a suggested that Liam could have replaced Perez 110 00:05:42,587 --> 00:05:45,067 Speaker 2: straight away in the top team. That would have left 111 00:05:45,147 --> 00:05:48,467 Speaker 2: Daniel Ricardo retaining his place alongside Sanoa. Did they ever 112 00:05:48,507 --> 00:05:50,787 Speaker 2: feel like that could be an option for them? 113 00:05:51,667 --> 00:05:55,587 Speaker 5: Not before Mexico, because you know, you know, Mexican driver 114 00:05:55,627 --> 00:05:59,947 Speaker 5: in Mexico, big, big country, loads of people, you know, 115 00:06:00,627 --> 00:06:03,307 Speaker 5: and to raise the awareness to Red Bull, you know, 116 00:06:03,587 --> 00:06:07,227 Speaker 5: purely from a commercial point of view, you want in Mexico. 117 00:06:07,747 --> 00:06:12,547 Speaker 5: So potentially he might have been dropped after Mexico, but 118 00:06:12,667 --> 00:06:14,427 Speaker 5: it was always going to be after Mexico. And then 119 00:06:14,507 --> 00:06:17,467 Speaker 5: that doesn't really leave enough time for the Red Bull 120 00:06:17,547 --> 00:06:20,787 Speaker 5: management to actually have a look at Lawson to see whether, 121 00:06:21,187 --> 00:06:23,667 Speaker 5: you know, he has that consistency they're looking, you know, 122 00:06:23,747 --> 00:06:26,227 Speaker 5: they're looking for. But I don't think unless Perez does 123 00:06:26,267 --> 00:06:28,547 Speaker 5: something magical for the rest of the season, I can't 124 00:06:28,547 --> 00:06:29,467 Speaker 5: see him there next year. 125 00:06:29,707 --> 00:06:32,107 Speaker 2: All right, we wait and see. This doesn't seem to 126 00:06:32,187 --> 00:06:36,427 Speaker 2: have been handled particularly well by Red Bull. Liam said 127 00:06:36,427 --> 00:06:38,707 Speaker 2: he knew a couple of weeks ago. Daniel Ricardo said 128 00:06:38,747 --> 00:06:41,627 Speaker 2: he only found out officially after the Singapore grom pleay 129 00:06:41,747 --> 00:06:44,827 Speaker 2: last week. Everybody seemed to know that this was happening. 130 00:06:45,187 --> 00:06:46,427 Speaker 2: What did you make of the process? 131 00:06:47,347 --> 00:06:50,747 Speaker 4: Oh, it's a typical Red Bull. They are ruthless. I mean, 132 00:06:50,867 --> 00:06:52,787 Speaker 4: their PR team is very good. To think that they 133 00:06:53,067 --> 00:06:55,947 Speaker 4: support juniors. They're really good with the juniors and you know, 134 00:06:56,027 --> 00:06:57,787 Speaker 4: they support them and they bring them up through. But 135 00:06:57,987 --> 00:07:01,467 Speaker 4: basically the juniors have to pay. Yeah, Lawson would have 136 00:07:01,547 --> 00:07:04,627 Speaker 4: been on peanuts as a reserve driver. You know, I think, 137 00:07:04,707 --> 00:07:07,387 Speaker 4: you know, you'll be on a decent whack map compared 138 00:07:07,387 --> 00:07:10,387 Speaker 4: to the rest of us. But that's just the way 139 00:07:10,507 --> 00:07:13,587 Speaker 4: they are. They're just a meat factory. They just grind 140 00:07:13,867 --> 00:07:17,427 Speaker 4: people out. You look at Devrees, you got the archer. 141 00:07:17,547 --> 00:07:21,987 Speaker 4: You look at Brendan Hartley, you know, only lasted one season, 142 00:07:23,347 --> 00:07:26,427 Speaker 4: Pierre Gasly Albina, you know all these guys, they just 143 00:07:26,827 --> 00:07:31,027 Speaker 4: if you do not perform instantly, they have no interest. 144 00:07:32,027 --> 00:07:35,507 Speaker 2: What's the danger then, of Liam Lawson being chewed up 145 00:07:35,507 --> 00:07:36,667 Speaker 2: and sped out by Red Bull. 146 00:07:37,467 --> 00:07:39,827 Speaker 4: But you know, personally, I think he's got the mental 147 00:07:39,907 --> 00:07:43,427 Speaker 4: fortitude not to and he's proven. I mean, if you 148 00:07:43,547 --> 00:07:48,307 Speaker 4: think He's everywhere he's raced so far, including tintops and 149 00:07:48,387 --> 00:07:51,667 Speaker 4: the DTM. He's podiumed or won a race. He nearly 150 00:07:51,707 --> 00:07:56,947 Speaker 4: won the Japanese super Formula Championship. He's mentally really strong 151 00:07:57,027 --> 00:08:00,067 Speaker 4: and he'll know this is an opportunity, but he's really measured. 152 00:08:00,587 --> 00:08:03,187 Speaker 4: You remember watching him and some of the listeners watching 153 00:08:03,227 --> 00:08:07,987 Speaker 4: him after he's at Van vor in an abhouring rain. 154 00:08:09,267 --> 00:08:13,067 Speaker 4: Never been to the circuit before abysmal conditions. I think 155 00:08:13,107 --> 00:08:17,507 Speaker 4: he finished thirteenth in his first race, and then you know, 156 00:08:17,667 --> 00:08:20,627 Speaker 4: getting into the points, he will go about this knowing 157 00:08:21,187 --> 00:08:23,587 Speaker 4: you can't let the red mist and the burst circle 158 00:08:23,707 --> 00:08:28,507 Speaker 4: rage or the dominant or go flat out things. Yeah. Been, 159 00:08:28,987 --> 00:08:30,947 Speaker 4: he's been around for too long and he's got some 160 00:08:31,347 --> 00:08:35,027 Speaker 4: really good people that have mentored him Piney through this 161 00:08:35,147 --> 00:08:38,627 Speaker 4: whole journey. He has the right mental fortitude, and he's quick. 162 00:08:38,787 --> 00:08:41,707 Speaker 4: Everybody knows he's quick. He's proven he's quick in his cart. 163 00:08:41,907 --> 00:08:44,827 Speaker 4: So it's a it's all lining up quite nicely. 164 00:08:45,027 --> 00:08:47,587 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's a really good summary, Eric, Great to get 165 00:08:47,627 --> 00:08:51,227 Speaker 2: your analysis. As always, where await with interest. The United 166 00:08:51,267 --> 00:08:53,947 Speaker 2: States Grand Prix in about three weeks time, and and 167 00:08:54,067 --> 00:08:55,947 Speaker 2: the rest of twenty twenty four and to see what 168 00:08:56,027 --> 00:08:57,827 Speaker 2: twenty twenty five holds. Always great to chat. 169 00:08:57,707 --> 00:08:59,227 Speaker 4: Mate, Thanks Pony, always a pleasure. 170 00:08:59,267 --> 00:09:04,267 Speaker 2: Good on you, mate. That's Eric Thompson, motorsport analyst, journalist, reporter, observer, 171 00:09:05,307 --> 00:09:07,387 Speaker 2: pretty astute observer too. 172 00:09:08,067 --> 00:09:11,227 Speaker 1: For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 173 00:09:11,347 --> 00:09:14,627 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 174 00:09:14,667 --> 00:09:16,227 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio