Liam Lawson confirmed for Formula 1 test with AlphaTauri
Lawson will also test in select “Young Driver” free practice sessions throughout the 2022 season. Speaking with Formula 1 pundits, Sport1, this weekend, AlphaTauri team principal Franz Trost confirmed Lawson’s addition to the programme, which will also include other Young Driver tests over the next year.
It wont be the first time the 19 year-old from Pukekohe has driven a Formula 1 car. He scored a publicity drive in AlphaTauri’s sister Red Bull F1 car at this year’s Goodwood festival of speed. However the test will be his first official track time.
Lawson is an undeniable talent and has been impressing in both Formula 2 where he is currently eighth in the Championship and DTM, in which he leads the championship.
As a Red Bull Junior he made history as the youngest winner of a DTM race after a stellar drive at the season opener in Monza this year and his on track performance bodes well for Liam suggests Trost who said “If you have the right talent, you will end up in Formula 1 at some point.”
F1 is implementing mandatory rookie practices from next season which will see teams selecting young drivers to pilot their cars during a selection of practice sessions. Tost has confirmed, Lawson will be with AlphaTauri for some of those.
Both Red Bull and AlphaTauri have confirmed driver line-ups for 2022, so Lawson may need to bide his time a little longer if he is to be offered a full-time seat in F1, but there is no question he is on the correct trajectory for a potential drive in the future.