Liam Lawson isn’t Williams’ new driver yet. Although everything seemed set, some issues with Red Bull and hesitation from Lawson’s side keep Mick Schumacher in the running.
Williams is looking for someone to replace Logan Sargeant. Sargeant’s crash during practice in Zandvoort was costly, both financially and for future updates. Now, Carlos Sainz is set to drive Sargeant’s car in 2025, but Williams wants a change sooner, possibly by Monza.
Why Williams Wants Liam Lawson
James Vowles has been talking to both Red Bull and Mercedes. He discussed Liam Lawson with Red Bull and Mick Schumacher with Mercedes. Vowles wanted Andrea Kimi Antonelli, but Mercedes thinks it’s too soon for him. Antonelli will drive a Mercedes at Monza for FP1 and might be announced as a 2025 driver.
Williams prefers Lawson due to his impressive performance filling in for Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri in 2023. However, Red Bull’s conditions are problematic. Christian Horner mentioned that while Lawson could leave, Red Bull could call him back anytime. Fans might think this is a tricky situation for Williams.
Lawson’s camp also sees these terms as an issue. They know Williams won’t agree to them. It’s strange because if Lawson gains experience at Williams, he might end up helping a rival team like Visa Cash App RB in 2025.
Red Bull’s plans for Lawson are unclear. His camp hopes he’ll get a spot on the team by September; otherwise, he can join another team. This uncertainty makes the temporary move to Williams less appealing for Lawson.
Will Mick Schumacher Return to Formula 1?
Mick Schumacher is the second choice for Williams. With two years of F1 experience, he knows all the tracks and brings the famous Schumacher name back to the sport—a feel-good story for fans!
However, Schumacher hasn’t had great results lately. He lost the Alpine seat shootout to Jack Doohan and has been overtaken by Andrea Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes. If Williams wants Schumacher, they need to act fast since he’s racing with Alpine’s WEC team at COTA this weekend.
The decision lies with Williams now. They prefer Lawson but need favorable terms from Red Bull and agreement from Lawson himself. If not, Schumacher might make his F1 return.
What do you think about this situation?
