Ahead of his return to the F1 grid, Liam Lawson admits that he's facing a tough weekend in Austin.

The New Zealander replaces Daniel Ricciardo after RB called time on the Australian in Singapore.

Though test and reserve driver for RB and Red Bull, like most other test and reserves drivers Lawson has had little time in the current machinery other than 100 laps of Mugello in the RB20 recently tyre testing for Pirelli.

He was due to drive the current RB at Imola following the Belgian Grand Prix, part of what was claimed was a 'shootout' with Ricciardo, but with the Faenza-based outfit having opted to stick with the Australian, Lawson drove the 2022 AlphaTauri instead.

Having never driven the COTA track, Lawson admits that his return is going to be challenging.

"It's always a big jump," he told Newstalk ZB. "It's going to be tough to jump in Austin, I haven't done COTA before either, so even though I've done plenty of work, it's going to be a big challenge.

"But I would say I'm better prepared, definitely more prepared this year than I was last year," he adds, referring to Zandvoort where he was called upon to replace Ricciardo after the Australian crashed in the second practice session.

"At the same time, it's slightly later in the season this year, so these guys have done three quarters of a season, and there's nothing like...

"Obviously, I've been training like crazy all year to try and be ready for something like this, but even the few tests that I've done this year, it's, there's nothing like being race fit.

"It's going to be challenging in Austin," he admits.

Asked about the so-called shootout that never was, Lawson still believes he was being evaluated.

No, it was," he replies when asked about the Imola outing. "They were all evaluation days and they were designed to put lots of pressure on me.

"Basically, it was for an event like this where, to throw me in, a bit like last year, throw me in mid-season, they needed to know that obviously, I'd somewhat performed.

"They were definitely evaluation days."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BillH, 15/10/2024 20:59

"@greg I don’t think there is a bias towards the New Zealanders that get so high in Motorsport, more so a bias against high performers in other series such as Indycar.
Perhaps this is more because most of the drivers there have not done F3 or F2, aside from those that miss out on F1 of course?
You are right though that NZ does punch above its weight especially considering the lack of media promotion over here. "

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2. Posted by Chester, 15/10/2024 18:40

"@Greg. Of course, those guys are tops. Didn't mean to denigrate anyone. Just looking at odds that are odd- and to my eye, intentionally biased by regulations."

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3. Posted by Greg, 15/10/2024 7:16

"@moomoo thanks for the correction. Bad typing and not spell checking :-(
"

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4. Posted by moomoo, 14/10/2024 19:07

"@Chester - re Colton, that's what happens to even more than decent drivers when they drive for an F1 pretender."

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5. Posted by moomoo, 14/10/2024 19:05

"@Greg - his name was Denny. And his last name was Hulme. Close but...."

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6. Posted by Greg, 14/10/2024 18:07

"@chester. Bruce McLaren and Danny Hume to name a few :-)"

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7. Posted by Chester, 14/10/2024 14:15

"Liam is smart in the way that Lou Holtz (former coach of Notre Dame football) would play up his opponents strengths before kicking the tar out of them on the field.

A Kiwi? I remain stunned that a country of 5 million population produces an F1 driver, but Colton Herta does not qualify, even when there are folks willing to offer him a drive."

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It's going to be challenging admits Lawson

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