Liam Lawson is replacing Sergio Perez at Red Bull ahead of next season, which will be a very difficult job for the New Zealander.
Red Bull’s new driver is being thrown straight into the top team after just 11 races, which is less than half a campaign of experience.
Lawson has been very impressive over his brief stint at RB and matched teammate Yuki Tsunoda despite the Japanese driver racing in F1 since 2021.
The New Zealander has driven well, and Lawson has already had a tussle with Fernando Alonso as the pair disagreed at the United States Grand Prix.
Replacing Perez next season will be tricky, and Lawson has been watching the Mexican since the early days of his Formula 1 career.
He explained that one race Perez put together in particular sticks in Lawson’s memory and made many people take notice of the former Red Bull driver.
Liam Lawson explains Malaysia 2012 put Sergio Perez ‘on the map’
Perez joined the Formula 1 grid with Sauber in 2011 and had a very good feel for the Pirelli tyres, which were new for that season.
The rubber was very fragile, but the Mexican made the tyres last longer than some others. This skill served him well in Malaysia in 2012, when he finished second behind Alonso.
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Lawson explained he remembers watching this race and feels Perez’s superb drive made people watch out for him in the future.
He told Sky Sports F1: “It goes back to when I was a kid, and I remember watching a race that I think really was one of his big putting on the map was in Malaysia in the Sauber, and he was fighting with Fernando Alonso.
“I remember that race as a kid watching that. To be competing against these guys now anyways, to put things into perspective, it’s quite crazy. I have a huge amount of respect for what he’s done in the sport and what he’s done for this team.”
Perez had chances to win the race as he was quicker than the Ferrari driver in the closing stages before he made a critical mistake, and the opportunity had gone.
It also showed how younger drivers can deliver excellent results despite not having many chances in a midfield team.
Liam Lawson hasn’t had the opportunity to fight for podiums yet
Lawson scored points twice during his six-race cameo at RB this season, with two drives to ninth place in Austin and Brazil.
The Kiwi hasn’t been close to standing on the podium before driving at Red Bull, which will take some getting used to.
There is a different pressure at the front with added media attention, which Lawson has yet to experience in his Formula 1 career.
The Red Bull team principal has praised him, and Christian Horner feels Lawson is robust enough to race Verstappen in the Austrian team despite only racing in 11 events.
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