Red Bull director Helmut Marko has repeated claims that Kiwi racer Liam Lawson will have a spot on the Formula 1 grid in 2025.
Lawson, 22, has spent this year's F1 season on the sidelines as a reserve driver for constructors’ champions Red Bull and its junior team Racing Bulls (Visa Cash App RB F1 Team).
Pundits currently see the Kiwi in a battle with Australian Daniel Ricciardo over a seat with RB – the final spot still vacant in the Red Bull stable in 2025.
Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Red Bull’s head of driver development Marko emphasised his desire to see Lawson on the grid.
“We will offer him something,” he said.
“A cockpit for next year.”
Speaking about RB as a team and Lawson’s place within it, Marko said: “It is clear that the Racing Bulls are a junior team.”
“That has been communicated internally, and everyone understands it.”
Bild said Marko and team principal Christian Horner are currently at odds over the final RB seat – with Horner backing Ricciardo due to his marketability.
Lawson had previously expressed his loyalty to Red Bull, which developed him as a driver since he was a teenager, putting him through F3, F2 and Super Formula in Japan.
But a clause in his contract, that says if he doesn’t have an F1 seat by 2025 he will be free to leave, could see Lawson step into a different car.
Lawson’s management told NZ Herald they were unaware of Red Bull’s plans but expected to find out in the upcoming mid-season break.
Lawson made his F1 debut during the Dutch Grand Prix last year after Ricciardo broke his hand.
Lawson impressed during his five-race stint, finishing ahead of teammate Yuki Tsunoda in four races, knocking world champion Max Verstappen out of qualifying, and securing the team a ninth place points finish in Singapore.
It was revealed after the stint however that Ricciardo and Tsunoda had both re-signed with the team before Lawson had driven.
SHARE ME