Christian Horner’s Promise: Liam Lawson Secures 2024 F1 Seat Following Stellar Debut

Christian Horner pledged a 2024 F1 spot to Liam Lawson

Following his notable debut in last year's grand prix, Red Bull leader Christian Horner assured Liam Lawson of a racing position in F1 for the 2024 season.

Liam Lawson revealed that last year, Christian Horner, the head of Red Bull, assured him he would secure a spot in an F1 race at some time in the 2024 season.

The 22-year-old from New Zealand has stepped in for Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull's affiliate team, RB, for the remaining season, which includes six grand prix races and three sprint events.

Since 2022, Lawson has served as Red Bull's backup driver and participated in five races the previous season, stepping in for Ricciardo who was sidelined due to a hand injury sustained during a practice accident at Zandvoort.

Following a standout appearance, highlighted by his top showing in Singapore where he surpassed Max Verstappen in qualifying to make it to Q3 and earn points, Lawson disclosed that Horner had guaranteed him a seat with one of Red Bull's teams for the 2024 season.

"Lawson mentioned on the F1 Nation podcast that the suggestion for him to get involved was something Christian had proposed to him a year earlier."

"As I exited the vehicle, he assured me by saying, 'I promise you, at some point next year, you'll definitely find yourself in a race'."

"I was always aware of the purpose, and it had been a topic of discussion."

"Formula 1 is famously unpredictable, with fortunes shifting dramatically from one race weekend to the next. What may seem promising one moment can quickly turn disappointing, all based on the performance of the drivers at any given time."

To be frank, it's quite unpleasant since you find yourself pondering your odds of getting behind the wheel, and it entirely hinges on the performance of those who are currently in the driver's seat.

"Clearly, the last thing you wish for is to advance at the expense of another's misfortune, but it's apparent that in order for me to move forward, someone else must step aside."

The path forward was ambiguous, lacking a defined destination. Instead of a concrete plan to exchange roles with someone in a year, the only assurance given was the provision of a position, albeit with the location still undecided.

"That's when, over the course of the year, the conversations took place, and it was precisely during Baku time that Christian finally informed me I would be taking the leap."

In response to a question about the requirements set by Red Bull for securing a permanent seat in 2025, Lawson stated that the team's expectations are for him to perform at a level that matches or surpasses that of Yuki.

"The objective set by the team is for me to be on par with him and deliver results. They are aiming for points. It's clear that the team is in a battle for the sixth position in the constructors' standings, which holds significant importance for VCARB."

Essentially, the objective is to score, and achieving that indicates we're performing well. That's the goal we aim for. However, we are constantly under assessment. This has been the case ever since I joined Red Bull at the age of 16.

"Our work is continually assessed based on how we perform. This constant evaluation is no different from the usual standards we're accustomed to."

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