Liam Lawson has emerged as an outside candidate for a Sauber/Audi Formula 1 seat – but only if the Hinwil team loses the other drivers on its current wish list and Red Bull doesn’t require the Kiwi in 2025.
Some key moves in the driver market are expected to unfold in the coming days, with “bottleneck” Carlos Sainz set to make a decision about his future.
His interest in Alpine and a return to the Enstone team that he previously drove for had faded in recent weeks. Still, the arrival of Flavio Briatore in the camp and talk of a switch to a customer Mercedes or Honda PU in 2026 has moved the goalposts and made it a more enticing prospect.
Before Alpine’s renewed bid, the Spaniard had been widely tipped to choose Williams over Audi.
The potential form of their respective 2026 power units is key to his decision, along with the freedom to walk away from Williams that he would not have with a firm three-year deal at Audi.
If Sainz eventually turns down Audi, free agent Esteban Ocon is believed to be at the top of the German manufacturer’s list, although the Frenchman is also tipped to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Haas alongside Oliver Bearman.
Ocon’s current teammate, Pierre Gasly, is also in the frame at Audi should he not stay at Alpine.
IMOLA, ITALY – MAY 18: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App RB looks on in the Paddock after qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit on May 18, 2024 in Imola, Italy. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202405180447 // Usage for editorial use only //
Lawson in the mix at Audi, Red Bull still assessing
If Audi loses F1 race winners Sainz, Ocon and Gasly to rivals and opts not to keep either of its current drivers, Lawson is known to be on the team’s radar. However, his availability depends on whether Red Bull decides to put him in Daniel Ricciardo’s VCARB seat in 2025.
The drinks company is in no hurry to make a call as it monitors Ricciardo’s form closely. Next month, Lawson will undergo a 2022 car test at Imola as part of the overall assessment.
“We’re acutely aware of all of the options,” said RBR boss Christian Horner when asked by this writer about the situation.
“So I guess over the summer break, we’ll sit down and start to look at it. The more races we have, the more information, the more data we have, so we don’t need to be in a rush.”
If Red Bull ultimately decides to stick with Ricciardo, then Lawson will, in theory, be available for Audi.
It’s understood that if he doesn’t get the VCARB seat, then contractually, he will eventually be free to go elsewhere.
However sources suggest that the date for that freedom is “very late”, and that potentially Audi cannot wait that long to confirm its second driver.
An alternative route would be to buy Lawson out of his contract early. This is something Alpine did with Gasly – although sources suggest that Red Bull will be reluctant to let him go.
It’s understood that if Ricciardo is dropped by Red Bull, the Australian is unlikely to have a chance with Audi.
