Lawson set to receive grid drop penalty in Austin

Liam Lawson will start his second chapter of his Formula One career with a grid drop penalty as he will exceed the power unit allocation for his VCARB.

Visa Cash App RB confirmed yeasterday that Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo and will be driving for the Faenza-based outfit for the remainder of the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship season, racing alongside Yuki Tsunoda in the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.

Lawson has been a Red Bull reserve driver since 2022, making his Grand Prix debut in Zandvoort last year during Daniel’s recovery period. His impressive five-race drive saw him score points for the Team, finishing ninth in the Singapore GP.

His return to the paddock will be hindered by an engine-related issue, with Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko having recently confirmed in an interview with Motorsport-Total that Lawson will be hit with a grid drop in the United States.

"The first [race], I think, won't be relevant because he has an engine penalty,” Marko revealed. “Ten places in the sprint race, so that doesn't exactly make life easier in Austin."