Liam Lawson‘s about to face one of the biggest challenges of his racing career – jumping into Formula 1 without knowing most of the tracks he’ll race on.
The 22-year-old New Zealander will make his first official start for Red Bull Racing at Australia’s Albert Park circuit next month. It’s a track he’s never even driven on.
And that’s just the beginning of his steep learning curve.
"I’m very excited about Melbourne and the start of the season," Lawson says. "There are a lot of cool circuits I haven’t done yet that I think I’ll enjoy."
The rookie’s enthusiasm is clear, but he’s also realistic about what lies ahead. Of all the races scheduled before F1’s summer break, Japan is the only track where he’s got any real experience – and that was just last year.
"The beginning of the year will be very, very difficult," he admits.
It’s a pretty unusual situation for an F1 driver. Most rookies get plenty of practice time before their first season, but Lawson only got his first taste of F1 action after last year’s summer break.
He’s particularly looking forward to some iconic venues: "China seems like a cool circuit. Canada is also somewhere I’ve always wanted to drive."
Despite the challenges ahead, there’s an unmistakable excitement in his voice when he talks about tackling these new tracks. "I’ve never really finished a season before, so I think the beginning of the year will be the hardest. But I would also dare to say that I am most excited to go to these new circuits."
For a young driver in F1’s fastest team, it’s going to be a baptism of fire. But that’s exactly what makes F1 so thrilling to watch.
