Lawson reflects on terrible Singapore weekend

Having just been confirmed as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo at the Visa Cash App RB outfit, Liam Lawson has reflected on the "terrible" race weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Visa Cash App RB confirmed last week that Liam Lawson will replace Daniel Ricciardo from Austin 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 Grand Prix.

Speaking to New Zealand's radio station Newstalk ZB, Lawson has opened up on the atmosphere at the Faenza-based outfit during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend, revealing that it was strange given the looming announcement.

"The weekend in Singapore was not pleasant at all because obviously we all knew what was going to happen. At the same time, Daniel has always been very good to me when I drove in his place last year.

"And even this season he was a person with whom I never felt that I was in competition for the seat. So, on the weekend the feelings were terrible. On the other hand, the opportunity to drive in Formula 1 comes only once, and for me, it has come now.

"So I can only be grateful to Red Bull for the opportunity and feel the need to take it with both hands. He also told me the same thing, he told me that I have to get the most out of this chance that was given to me."

Pushed on to reflect on Ricciardo's approach and performance at the Singapore Grand Prix, Lawson insisted that the Perth-born driver was very professional despite knowing that it would be his last F1 race.

"He did a really good job for the whole weekend and I have a deep respect for him and for the way he managed to live with this thing. I don't think it's easy to imagine what it means to be in such a position, but I was in a similar situation last year.

"Obviously, things are different because he is much more of a public figure and is much more famous than I am, so he received a lot of questions about it throughout the weekend and managed to avoid them. He really did an exceptional job."