To think a driver in only their third Formula 1 race weekend out-qualified almost every other Red Bull-affiliated driver—past or present—is mind-boggling. Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Yuki Tsunoda—they all fell like a stack of cards. Like dominoes one after the other as AlphaTauri super-sub, Liam Lawson put in the lap of his life. Not only did the 21-year-old make his first Q3 appearance, but he also ensured everyone remembered it. 

Yes, Verstappen making his first Q2 exit of the season was the biggest story to come out of qualifying. A double-Q2 exit for Red Bull closely followed. But how could anyone forget it was Lawson who dealt them this humiliation? Turns out, apart from preparing for the Singapore GP, he’s also gearing up for Red Bull’s wrath.

Max Verstappen & Co. are keeping Liam Lawson on the edge of his seat

Liam Lawson’s debut F1 stint goes back to former Red Bull driver Alex Albon. In 2022, when he sat out the Italian GP, Nyck de Vries filled in at Williams and impressed Red Bull. Red Bull signed him to AlphaTauri in 2023. He underperformed and was replaced by Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo broke his hand, and Lawson got the call-up. Three races in, it took him one lap in Q2 to put the Red Bull party to shame. 

Coming into the Singapore GP, the Milton-Keynes outfit knew it would be a tough outing. It proved tougher than they imagined as they struggled to get a grip on the RB19 leading up to qualifying. Verstappen struggled in the fastest car on the grid, only managing a P10 after his final run in Q2. Lawson—in one of the slowest cars—stitched up a lap to remember and pushed Verstappen out of qualifying by 0.007s. Yes, he spoilt Red Bull’s party, but why would he have to face its wrath?

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Lawson is a member of the Red Bull Driver Academy. This means that he’s answerable to Red Bull management. Considering he’s put a significant dent in Red Bull’s chances of extending its 15-race winning streak, a fan asked Lawson, “Did you get into trouble with Red Bull for doing that?” Lawson smiled and replied, “Not yet.” Irrespective of whether he’ll be receiving Red Bull’s impending wrath, there’s one sure thing; Lawson is proving he has what it takes to be in F1.

A full-time seat for Liam Lawson “could happen quickly”

Max Verstappen was on a 10-race winning streak. After Lawson’s qualifying performance, chances of extending that record have taken a backseat. Instead of unleashing its wrath on the 21-year-old, Red Bull will more likely be impressed by the young gun’s showing. In Zandvoort and Monza, he had clean weekends and extracted all he could from the car. Coming to Singapore—with an extremely tricky track—Lawson has made light work of it, almost humiliating the challenges that Marina Bay poses. Needless to say, he’s making the most out of the opportunity Red Bull has given him.

In an interview with F1, Christian Horner said, “This is a golden moment in his career for him to demonstrate what he’s capable of. So, we’re obviously following his progress very closely. It’s down to him to make the best use of it.” Discussing his progress over the past few weeks, Helmut Marko gave his insights, too. He said, “Will he get a [full-time] seat instead of [staying] a reserve driver? That could happen quickly.”

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What do you think lies ahead for Liam Lawson in 2024? Could he climb through the ranks to potentially drive alongside Max Verstappen in the future?