Why Liam Lawson is confident he can survive the 'toughest seat in F1'

However that has also reset the level of expectation around Lawson, as it’s obvious that he can’t be expected to go head-to-head with the Dutchman from the start. What he does have to do is back him up, show signs of steady improvement, and – most crucially – bring home points.

“Liam’s job is quite clear that he’s there to try and provide as much support as he possibly can,” says Horner when Motor Sport asks about Lawson. “There’s not an expectation for him to go out and beat a four-time full time world champion. If he beats him, fantastic, and there’s no orders to say that that he can’t.

“I think it’s a matter of trying to take the pressure off Liam as best we can. He has been part of our team for a couple of years as test and reserve driver, and one of the things that really impressed us about him is his mental strength and resilience.

“Being Max’s team-mate is probably the toughest seat in F1. We’ll do our best to protect him and develop him. He only has 11 grands prix under his under his belt, so it’s a big ask, but I think he’s got all the capability and talent and mental strength to be able to deal with that.”

Red Bull isn’t often known as an organisation that carefully nurtures its youngsters and allows them a honeymoon period, so Horner’s words are important in that context.

That constructors’ title is all-important, and last year’s tumble to third place was painful. With the obvious uncertainties surrounding the 2026 package, and especially the in-house power unit being developed with the assistance of Ford, Red Bull can’t afford to let things slide this year.

To his credit Lawson is smart enough to understand where the team’s focus lies. He’s a racer and he wants to prove a point with his pace, but he knows that initially at least the team simply requires him to earn solid results.

“The team’s goal is to win the constructors’,” he says. “And obviously they weren’t able to do that last year, and that’s the clear goal going into this year. So obviously we’re doing the best job we can to make the car as fast as possible.

“And for me, if we’re in a position that we’re fighting for winning the constructors’, then I’m doing my job. So I think that’s really where the team’s goal for me, and their expectation for me, is at. Outside obviously of my goals in F1.”

The two part-seasons with AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls have given Lawson a good grounding, but he still has to be considered as a rookie. Apart from anything else he has to deal with some unfamiliar tracks.

“To be honest the first half of the season, or the first part especially, is going to be very, very tough,” he admits. “So Melbourne, China, Miami, Canada, all those are tracks that I haven’t done before. Not starting the seasons obviously is unique. I’ve always just done the end of it, or some races in it.

“So having a proper pre-season has been useful, and hopefully will help to start. But I think no matter what, it’s going to be very, very tough. I think no matter how much prep we do, obviously going out on a new track, there’s always an element of how much time it takes to learn that and maximise it, at the same time as getting used to a new car.”

Regarding his learning curve he adds: “It’s just time, time in the seat. A lot of it’s dealing with the outside pressure. Obviously, we’re used to that with Red Bull. But coming into this season, there’s going to be another element of that, with coming into the main team.”

Lawson accepts that despite his previous race mileage he still has much to assimilate as his first full season progresses.

“I’ll only know I guess when I start racing,” he says. “I think right now, the focus is pretty clear.

“These tracks that we’re going to start at are going to be extra tough, because I haven’t done them. So for me, there’s no real expectation to go out there and start winning races from the get-go. It’s obviously going to be a process to get up to speed. And for me, it’s about doing that as quickly as possible.

“And there’s no real expectation or time frame on when I think I’m going to do that. It’s just about working towards doing that as quickly as possible. And obviously having Max as a team-mate is very valuable, from a learning perspective, getting to learn off everything he’s doing. There’s really nobody better to do that.

“We’re meant to be able to drive what we’re given, and maximise that”

“So it’s more about making the most and taking advantage of that, rather than thinking about it in a way that’s going obviously put extra pressure on me.”

What Lawson does have going for him is more familiarity with the team and especially the idiosyncrasies of recent Red Bull cars than you might think.

It’s been suggested that his driving style is more compatible with that of Verstappen – something that was an issue for Perez – but he believes that’s more a product of having grown used to what works for his new team-mate.

“As a reserve I’ve actually spent more time with Red Bull than with VCARB [Racing Bulls] technically,” he says. “With the amount of time I spent just being reserve and going to the races with Red Bull and doing simulator work, and over the years, just driving the car a lot in the sim, although it’s not on track – I’ve done a few tests, here and there.

“But I think just because of that, time spent helping develop the car and driving the car in the current state that it was, I guess you get used to it. You sort of understand that’s how it is. I think having a driving style… I guess technically, we’re meant to be professionals.

“We’re meant to be able to drive what we’re given, and maximise that. So I think it’s not really so much whether the driving style suits me or not, but it’s about how I make it work, I guess. And I’d like to think that I can do that.”

Verstappen meanwhile has always pretty chilled about who his team-mates are, but he sees Lawson as someone with whom he can work.

“I’ve seen him grow in the junior team as well,” says the world champion. “And I think also for him it’s nice to finally have a start to the season. And just honestly excited to be working with him. First time that I’m the older driver, as well!

“And let’s see where we are going to head together. He’s very nice guy, so I’m just happy to get started.”