Red Bull driver advisor Dr Helmut Marko agrees Liam Lawson is on his way to a future drive in Formula 1.
Dr Marko is the go-to man for deciding who gets a seat in one of Red Bull’s two F1 teams, and it was the former driver who first got Lawson on the Red Bull Junior programme.
The young Kiwi is currently racing in Formula 2, the final step before F1.
A win on his debut race in Bahrain and a further podium has Lawson eighth in the driver’s championship at the season’s halfway mark.
Lawson is also driving in the DTM championship in a Red Bull-backed Ferrari GT3 car.
He won his first race in the series and is second in the standings.
Talking with NewsTalk ZB’s Mike Hosking this morning, Dr Marko says Lawson’s drive to be the best version of himself is something he greatly admires.
“First of all, Liam is very down to earth, hardworking, and honest when he makes a mistake,” Marko said.
“He had some bad luck when he had his disqualification in Monte Carlo, and he analysed that he made a mistake, but he did a superb race.
“He is very, very ambitious and works with the engineers if he sees a weakness.
“And what was most amazing was how quickly he could change from Formula 2 to DTM, where he is also doing an excellent job.”
Marko said Lawson’s performances this year would be assessed next month.
It is then where he will decide what the next step is for the Kiwi.
However, he says his results from the past few years suggest he should be considered for an F1 seat soon.
“We will make an evaluation after the end of September.
“But being a consistently top driver in F2, being a consistent front runner in F3, and now also showing that in the Ferrari GT car [proves] that he has…the talent to be in Formula 1.
“When, is another question.”
Lawson will get an opportunity to drive Red Bull’s F1 simulator over the next few weeks.
Marko says that will give the team a reliable insight into whether Lawson is ready for a potential test.
“He has unbelievable speed and very good car control,” he said.
“What we have is the systems to help him to get mentally and physically in the best shape for the job he has to do.
“And also prepare him on the technical side – he is doing a lot of simulator stuff.
“I think he will be, in the next two weeks, on the Formula 1 simulator. So, that gives us the possibility to see, before he is in Formula 1 car, to see how he will do.”
Lawson is at Zolder this weekend for the next round of the DTM championship.
