Pressure of Red Bull opportunity led to moves which angered rivals

Liam Lawson said his eagerness to impress Red Bull during his six-round return to Formula 1 last year led him to make some of the uncompromising moves which irritated rival drivers.

Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez criticised Lawson’s driving at times and even appeared to exact revenge when they met him again on the track.

Lawson, who has taken Perez’s place at Red Bull this year, said he had to make the most of his return to RB (now Racing Bulls) because he knew that opportunity existed.

“I went in there obviously in a unique position. I had five or six races that I knew I was going to get, and that was my stint to prove that I was worthy of an F1 seat. Whether that was in [RB] or Red Bull, that was all I had the opportunity for.

“These guys have raced – especially Fernando – a long time,” he told Stuff. “So I went in there and made the most of every single lap that I drove in the car. I didn’t intend on pissing him off, but obviously I just raced him how I race people and it did that. I just tried to make the most of it.”

“Maybe knowing that extra bit of pressure, knowing what was on the line, maybe that sparked a few more… some of my not-so-finest moments,” he added. “But obviously I’m always learning as well and I learn from those.”

However Lawson said he has always been firm in his racing moves. “Honestly, I don’t think I’ve changed at all,” he said. “Maybe I wasn’t on TV enough before or something like that, but basically this is how I’ve always raced.

| Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

“Especially with the pathway to F1, quite often it feels unfair and I’ve always had to make the most of every opportunity. Now I’ve been extremely lucky with the timing of everything so I went in there and raced exactly how I feel like I always have.”

Having been promoted to an F1 seat after just 11 grand prix appearances, Lawson said he will keep his expectations in check to begin with.

“I have to be realistic. So, realistically, I know going in, I’m going to a whole bunch of tracks I’ve never done before and it’s my first full season, so I’m not expecting to go in there and fight with them for race wins instantly.

“But obviously I’m expecting to perform well and do the job that the team needs me to do. I’m obviously not there to lose either. I’m only there for one reason.”

He believes his long spell on Red Bull’s junior team, under the observation of Helmut Marko, has prepared him well for the opportunity.

“I think Red Bull’s environment for the last six years has always been [putting me] under pressure. That’s how it started when I was 16 and they signed me. I had the phone calls from Helmut every other week about ‘do the job, otherwise you’re axed’.

“Those kind of moments, obviously as a young driver, they put a lot of pressure on you and that builds you, really, for F1. So I feel like I’ve sort of been developed for this opportunity.”

| Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free