Daniel Ricciardo preferred over Liam Lawson to replace Nyck de Vries at AlphaTauri
It's done, Daniel Ricciardo will indeed be behind the wheel of the AlphaTauri in Hungary, replacing Nyck de Vries, who was ejected from the team due to his poor performances. But perhaps the main loser in this move is Liam Lawson.
Pushed aside by McLaren last year, Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of the opportunity to take a break from his racing career, still becoming a reserve driver for Red Bull. A short break indeed, as the Australian will be back behind the wheel for AlphaTauri at the Hungarian Grand Prix, following Nyck de Vries’ dismissal.
However, this sudden transfer during the season raises questions: wasn’t there a young Red Bull driver ready to take that seat at AlphaTauri? While there are many prospects in Formula 2, the focus should be on Japan and its championship. In Super Formula, a Red Bull academy driver shines: Liam Lawson. Indeed, this young New Zealander is performing well in Japan, with several victories under his belt. Furthermore, he is also a reserve driver for Red Bull and AlphaTauri, and has already had the opportunity to drive a Red Bull car. Yet, despite these qualities, it was not him who was propelled into Formula 1.
Moreover, one could almost say that Liam Lawson, despite his third place in the 2022 F2 championship, is the main loser in this story. Usually expected to welcome young talents from the Red Bull program, AlphaTauri has agreed with Red Bull to bring in Daniel Ricciardo for the end of the season. A risky gamble for the team if the Australian has not regained his past performance. And a risk for the driver himself: in case of poor performance, it could very well mean the end of Ricciardo’s career.
For Liam Lawson, who will have to wait again before possibly getting a chance in Formula 1, his goal is to finish his season in Super Formula and maybe even win the title. He is undoubtedly still a driver from the Red Bull program and, above all, a test driver. We might also see him in the Formula 1 paddock later this year. And nothing is lost for the New Zealander, as he could land in the premier category next year or the year after. Let’s wait for him to prove himself in Japan.
One thing is for sure with the return of Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Pérez will be under pressure. If the Mexican doesn’t improve his performance and the Australian comes back strong, his seat will be in danger. There are still 12 races left this season, Ricciardo doesn’t have much time to prove that his return was the right choice.
