It would be hard to imagine any driver having a more turbulent time reaching a full season’s worth of races in Formula 1 than Liam Lawson.
After making his debut at the last minute in place for Daniel Ricciardo at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, Liam Lawson has now had four separate spells in different F1 teams that make up his 17 race starts.
He spent five races with AlphaTauri as a result of Ricciardo’s injury in 2023, and then another six events with the renamed RB team last year when he permanently took the Australian’s seat.
| Position | Drivers’ Championship | Points |
| 1 |
Oscar Piastri |
131 |
| 2 |
Lando Norris |
115 |
| 3 |
Max Verstappen |
99 |
| 4 |
George Russell |
93 |
| 5 |
Charles Leclerc |
53 |
| 6 |
Andrea Kimi Antonelli |
48 |
| 7 |
Lewis Hamilton |
41 |
| 8 |
Alexander Albon |
30 |
| 9 |
Esteban Ocon |
14 |
| 10 |
Lance Stroll |
14 |
That was enough to convince Red Bull to promote Lawson for the start of this campaign over more experienced teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
Unfortunately, two races into his Red Bull career, Lawson was demoted back to the once again renamed Racing Bulls teams with Tsunoda heading in the other direction.
It’s a remarkable career path, but one that has allowed Lawson to observe his rivals close up and from the pit wall over the past few years.
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
Liam Lawson claims Fernando Alonso is the best overtaker in Formula 1
Lawson was taking part in an interview with ESPN during the Miami Grand Prix weekend and made a particularly impressive claim about Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso.
The 23-year-old was asked to build his perfect F1 driver and had to name a racer for each attribute given to him.
For overtaking Lawson said, ‘Fernando,’, while for ability in the wet, he went with Max Verstappen.
The F1 driver best at braking according to Lawson was the recently released Ricciardo, as ‘he was a late braker,’ and the Kiwi went for Kimi Raikkonen for his personality.
Lawson thinks Michael Schumacher had the best mentality, and for one-lap speed, he chose Verstappen again.
Alonso has had to try and do as much overtaking as possible this season given how slow Aston Martin’s car has been in 2025.
It’s safe to say that after the Sprint Race in Miami, Alonso is unlikely to suggest that Lawson is the best overtaker on the grid right now.
READ MORE: Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso’s life outside F1 from net worth to Cars 2
Fernando Alonso is intertwined with Liam Lawson’s Formula 1 career
While Lawson may have only started 17 Grand Prix, he seems to always come to blows with Alonso.
At last season’s United States Grand Prix, Alonso was furious with Lawson after the Sprint Race and made his feelings clear coming out of the pit lane during qualifying that he wasn’t a fan of the New Zealander’s conduct.
With Aston Martin and Racing Bulls both challenging for the final points this season, the pair have been in close conduct throughout 2025.
However, Lawson got too close for comfort in Miami, making contact with Alonso during the Sprint Race and sending him flying into the barriers.
| RANK | DRIVER | TEAM | POINTS |
| 17 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 0 |
| 18 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 0 |
| 19 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | 0 |
| 20 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 0 |
He finished seventh but was one of several drivers handed a time penalty, denying him his first points finish of the season.
Both Lawson and Alonso are still waiting to secure their first points of 2025, alongside Jack Doohan and Gabriel Bortoleto.
It’s now a race to avoid being the final driver left scoreless this season, and while the Racing Bulls appears to be the quicker car, Alonso’s overtaking pedigree might give him a better chance.
