EXCLUSIVE: F1 star SHOCKED at rival drivers after brutal Qatar Grand Prix

Liam Lawson, Max Verstappen, 2023 — Photo: © IMAGO

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EXCLUSIVE: F1 star SHOCKED at rival drivers after brutal Qatar Grand Prix

An F1 star was left shocked by their rivals at the Qatar Grand Prix

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Monday 2 December 2024 12:55 Updated: 13:49

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RB Formula 1 star Liam Lawson’s shock towards his rivals has been revealed by his trainer as he recollects the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.

Lawson returned to F1 full-time after the Singapore Grand Prix this season when he replaced Daniel Ricciardo at Visa Cash App RB for the remainder of 2024.

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The Kiwi has since proved his capabilities at Red Bull's junior outfit and has matched team-mate Yuki Tsunoda most weekends since his return.

Furthermore, Lawson has also emerged as a contender for a drive at Red Bull if the team decide to sack Sergio Perez before his contract expires.

Liam Lawson has proved to be a worthy replacement at RB

Liam Lawson F1 shock revealed from Qatar GP

Lawson also competed with RB under their old name Alpha Tauri when he replaced an injured Ricciardo in 2023.

Following his appearance at the Qatar Grand Prix last year, his trainer Matt Tait revealed how shocked Lawson was at his rivals’ exhaustion after the race.

"Qatar, when Liam ended up in the car. That, for me, probably one of the most proud moments for me because he's jumped in the car, he's not been in it all season, he's done half a race weekend at Zandvoort, he's done Monza, he's done Singapore, and then he's gone to Qatar,” Tait exclusively told Jim Kimberley on behalf of GPFans.

"And the amount of drivers that struggled at Qatar, and the amount of drivers that didn't even go to the press conference, yet he jumped out, did his interviews and things. He's like, ‘I didn't have time to go to the medical centre and do all these things. I had to get on a flight’.

Liam Lawson's trainer reveals RB star's shock at F1 rivals in Qatar

The 2023 Qatar GP saw several drivers impacted by the severe heat, which many described as the most difficult race they had ever experienced, with Alpine star Esteban Ocon revealing that he even threw up in his helmet.

However, even this affliction failed to stir Lawson, who claimed that he was not bothered by the heat and called out his rivals for their extreme reactions.

"So, he said, ‘Yeah, I was a bit tired, and I could do with a drink, but I wasn't, like, dying or death.’ He's like, ‘What's wrong with these people? They've been in all season'.

"But it's not only about the preparation that we've gone through, but it's about his grit and determination. Like, the lad is tough. Not only is he strong, he's just tough mentally."

"I can push him and push him and keep throwing stuff at him, and he'll just keep going. You know, he'll go until he falls over. He's not afraid of discomfort; he's not afraid of pushing himself to his absolute limits."

Written by

Sheona Mountford - F1 Journalist

Sheona Mountford is a motorsport journalist specialising in F1. As a writer and contributor, she covers a wide range of motorsport series from F1 to F1 Academy, responsible for breaking news, live race coverage and in depth analysis of the sport and the culture around it.

View full biography

Red Bull Daniel Ricciardo Sergio Perez Yuki Tsunoda Liam Lawson RB