Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson plans to give "everything I have" when he lines up on the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, his first race since being demoted from Red Bull.
Lawson was dropped down to Racing Bulls last week after just two races with Red Bull, failing to crack the points in Australia and China.
Ahead of the weekend's first practice session at Suzuka Circuit on Friday, the 23-year-old said: "I'm really looking forward to be racing in Japan this weekend."
"Suzuka is one of my favourite tracks on the calendar. It's cool to drive and very high speed, which makes it great fun in a Formula One car."
He called the weekend a "big opportunity" to once again prove himself on a team he's familiar with.
"I’m very excited to work with this team again.
"As always, I’ll be giving it everything I have,” he said.
Racing Director Alan Permane said Suzuka was "one of the ultimate challenges" for cars, drivers, and tyres and hoped Lawson's experience at the track would come in handy.
“We welcome Liam back to the team at a track he knows well from his season in Super Formula in 2023 and look forward to him and Isack (Hadjar) working together to extract the maximum performance from the car here, and for the rest of the season.”
Tsunoda hopes friendship with Lawson not damaged
Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson's replacement at Red Bull, said he hoped to remain friends with his former teammate.
Tsunoda and Lawson raced with, and against, each other as teammates in the 2019 Formula 3 season, 2020 Toyota Racing Series in New Zealand, and the end of last year's F1 season,
“We didn’t talk yet [me and Lawson]. I’m sure we’re going to be around anyway in Tokyo with the events so let’s see how it goes,” Tsunoda told BBC sport.
“Hopefully as a friendship, we won’t make anything ruined or get damaged.
“I think I’ve felt it a little bit in the first half of the season this year, so probably we don’t have the friendship we used to have from when we were fighting in junior categories, but I think that’s natural, fighting for the seat and everything.
“I know he is a funny guy and I know how to make our relationship good but let’s see how it goes, it’s not easy.”
Tsunoda said he was aiming for a podium at his home race.
“But at the same time, realistically, you think about jumping into the new car straight away with limited sessions, that’s pretty tough.
“I think what I can say for now is if I can score points - top 10 - I’ll be happy.”
SHARE ME