Lawson addresses Verstappen F1 team-mate ‘fear’

Liam Lawson is adamant he has no fear over the prospect of going head-to-head with Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko recently hinted the team would make a decision regarding its driver line-up after Abu Dhabi amid Sergio Perez’s struggling form.

The Mexican driver is under major pressure amid a string of lacklustre performances, with Lawson being linked as one of his potential replacements.

Despite only having a handful of races under his belt, Lawson is confident as to how he would fare against Verstappen, should he be promoted by Red Bull.

“No, I’m not afraid of that,” Lawson told De Telegraaf. “In fact, I wouldn’t want anyone more as a team-mate than Max. He’s the best in the sport. 

“It would be very educational to compete against him, to be able to study his data every weekend and see exactly how he approaches it. It would be the ultimate challenge for me. 

“So no, I’m not afraid. I’m just not thinking about it too much right now. If I get the chance in the future, I will do everything I can to get the most out of it.”

Verstappen ‘clear and direct’

After spending a period of time on the sidelines, Lawson revealed he has learned more from Verstappen than any other driver so far during his association with F1.

“By being in the garage and wearing a headset, I have been able to see and hear everything up close for two years,” he said. 

“How he drives the car, how he talks about the balance and what he wants. 

“Very clear and direct, Max does not waste time when giving his feedback. That is so important in Formula 1. I think I have learned more from him than from anyone else.”