Liam Lawson's Silverstone Test: A Glimpse into Red Bull's Future

Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old New Zealander, is set to take the wheel of Red Bull's 2024 Formula 1 car during a filming day at Silverstone on Thursday. This test comes at a time when pressure is mounting on Sergio Perez, the underperforming Red Bull driver, raising questions about Lawson's potential role in the team's future plans.

Unlocking the Potential: Liam Lawson's Silverstone Opportunity

A Chance to Shine

Liam Lawson, Red Bull's reserve driver, is poised to showcase his skills on the track during the upcoming filming day at Silverstone. This test, part of his 2024 reserve program, presents a valuable opportunity for the young driver to demonstrate his capabilities and potentially position himself as a leading alternative option for the world champions, should the need arise either later this season or next.While the test is not a make-or-break moment for Lawson's Red Bull career, his performance could significantly impact his chances of securing a full-time Formula 1 seat within the team's stable. Lawson has already impressed in a five-race cameo for RB, then known as AlphaTauri, last year, scoring points at his third race appearance in Singapore. This latest test will allow him to further showcase his talent and potential.

The Significance of Filming Days

Filming days, of which Formula 1 teams are allowed two per year, are designed for teams to capture content of their cars on track while also serving as "shakedown" opportunities ahead of pre-season testing. Red Bull has already completed one such filming day this year, with Perez and Max Verstappen debuting the new RB20 at Silverstone in February.The upcoming test at Silverstone will see Lawson running in the current championship-leading R20, with the event restricted to 200km of track running, or 33 laps of the full Silverstone GP circuit. This limited mileage is due to the use of Pirelli's specially designed tyres for filming days, which differ from the standard race tyres.

A Chance to Impress

While Lawson's test is not a make-or-break moment for his Red Bull career, it presents a valuable opportunity for the young driver to showcase his skills and potentially position himself as a leading alternative option for the team. With in-season opportunities to run in current Formula 1 machinery extremely limited, this test will allow Lawson to demonstrate where he currently stands in terms of his development and readiness for a full-time seat.Lawson's performance in the test will be closely watched, as it could have implications for Perez's future with the team. The Mexican driver is currently under growing pressure to quickly find a way out of his slump in form, which has seen him score just 11 points over the past five races.

Perez's Struggles and Lawson's Potential

Sergio Perez's position at Red Bull is not thought to be under immediate threat, with the Hungarian and Belgian Grand Prix races still to come before the summer break. However, his recent performances have been a cause for concern, with team principal Christian Horner admitting that Perez's current form is "unsustainable."Perez's last podium finish was eight races ago in China, while Verstappen has won three times since then. This stark contrast in performance has led to growing pressure on Perez to regain his form and contribute to Red Bull's Constructors' Championship lead, which currently stands at 71 points.The announcement of Perez's two-year contract extension in June has raised questions, with Horner hinting at the presence of certain performance clauses within the deal. This suggests that Perez's future may not be as secure as it initially appeared, and Lawson's test could be seen as a potential audition for the young driver's future with the team.

Ricciardo's Uncertain Future

Lawson's Silverstone outing also comes a year to the day since Daniel Ricciardo, who was serving as a reserve driver for Red Bull at the time, was given an opportunity to test the team's then-latest car. Ricciardo's impressive performance in that test led to him being handed an immediate Formula 1 comeback at AlphaTauri, replacing Nyck de Vries.However, Ricciardo's future with Red Bull is now far from certain. While his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, has already been granted a contract extension for 2025, Ricciardo's fate remains uncertain. Lawson remains an alternative option for Red Bull, and Perez's struggles could potentially open the door for a change at the senior team before the 2024 season.As the Formula 1 season heads to the Hungarian Grand Prix and the summer break, Liam Lawson's Silverstone test will be closely watched as a potential glimpse into Red Bull's future. The young driver's performance could have significant implications for the team's driver lineup, both in the short and long term.