Liam Lawson Bio
Liam Jared Lawson (born 11 February 2002) is a New Zealand racing driver who competes in Formula One for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Recognized as one of the most promising talents from the Asia-Pacific region, Lawson drives car number 30 and has built his career through a steady climb from junior karting into the top tier of international motorsport. He is a long-time member of the Red Bull Junior Team, a pathway that helped shape his progression through the junior formulae and into Grand Prix racing.
A driver known for his sharp race craft and aggressive wheel-to-wheel style, Lawson has earned results across single-seater championships in Europe, Asia, and Oceania. His journey from a young karter in New Zealand to a full-time Formula One competitor reflects years of disciplined development and the support of his family, who sold their home to help fund his early racing career.
Early Life and Background
Liam Jared Lawson was born on 11 February 2002 in Hastings, a city in the Hawke’s Bay region of New Zealand. He was raised in Pukekohe, a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island that was home to Pukekohe Park Raceway, a circuit that played an important role in his introduction to motorsport. Growing up in a country with a deep racing heritage, Lawson was surrounded by stories of New Zealand champions and the local club scene that nurtures young talent.
Lawson began competitive kart racing at the age of six, following his older brother into the sport. He quickly developed a reputation for speed and consistency on New Zealand karting circuits. In 2008, he began competing in regional karting championships, and by 2014 he had collected two karting titles. His parents made a significant personal sacrifice to back his ambitions, selling their family home to help fund his early racing seasons. The number 30, which he wears on his car, was chosen in honour of his karting mentor.
Outside of racing, Lawson remains closely tied to his New Zealand roots. He returns each year to compete at the City of Sails race at the Kartsport Auckland Go Kart Club, a tradition that connects him to the community where his career began.
Path to NASCAR
Lawson’s verified professional background is rooted in international open-wheel racing rather than stock car competition. After karting, he progressed through single-seater categories in New Zealand, including the Formula First Manfeild Winter Series and the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship, which he won in dominant fashion. He later raced in the ADAC Formula 4 championship, the Euroformula Open Championship, and the Toyota Racing Series, building a résumé that led to his Formula One debut.
As a result, a NASCAR-specific career section is not supported by the available verified information, and any transition to NASCAR competition is not documented in the inputs.
Liam Lawson Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Lawson made his single-seater debut in 2015 with Sabre Motorsport in the Formula First Manfeild Winter Series, finishing second overall with a win and ten podium finishes. That same year he contested the New Zealand Formula First championship and claimed the Rookie of the Year title. In 2016, he moved up to the New Zealand Formula 1600 Championship Series and rewrote the record books by winning fourteen of fifteen races, becoming the youngest Formula Ford champion in the world at the time.
In 2017, Lawson stepped into the Australian Formula 4 championship with BRM, taking five wins and finishing as runner-up in his rookie season. He stayed at the Formula 4 level the following year, joining Van Amersfoort Racing for the ADAC Formula 4 championship, where he claimed three wins and three pole positions and once again finished second in the standings. These early results established him as one of the leading junior talents in the Red Bull Junior Team pipeline.
Junior Single-Seater Breakthrough (2019–2020)
In 2019, Lawson joined M2 Competition for the Toyota Racing Series and dominated the early rounds at Highlands Motorsport Park, securing the title at the New Zealand Grand Prix after a season-long battle with Ferrari junior Marcus Armstrong. He also finished as runner-up in the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship, claiming the rookies’ title in the process. Later that year he entered the inaugural FIA Formula 3 Championship with MP Motorsport, recording two podium finishes.
For the 2020 FIA Formula 3 season, Lawson switched to Hitech Grand Prix and elevated his game with three wins, including a lights-to-flag victory at Mugello in the season finale. He ended the year fifth in the championship with 143 points, establishing himself as a consistent front-runner and earning a step up to Formula 2.
FIA Formula 2 Championship (2021–2022)
Lawson entered the 2021 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Hitech Grand Prix alongside Jüri Vips. He opened the season with a debut win in the Bahrain sprint race and added further podiums at Monaco and Jeddah, finishing the year ninth overall with one win and three podiums. He also raced in the 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters for Red Bull AF Corse, becoming the youngest race winner in DTM history and ending the season as runner-up after a controversial finale at the Norisring.
In 2022, Lawson moved to Carlin and enjoyed his strongest F2 campaign to date. He took four victories, including wins at Spa-Francorchamps, Paul Ricard, and Abu Dhabi, and added six other podiums. He finished third in the drivers’ championship with 149 points, cementing his reputation as a title contender and putting him on the radar for a Formula One race seat.
Super Formula Championship (2023)
Lawson contested the 2023 Super Formula Championship with reigning champions Team Mugen, partnering two-time title holder Tomoki Nojiri. He became the first driver since 1978 to win on his Japanese Top Formula debut, taking the victory at Fuji. He added further wins at Autopolis and the second Fuji round, claiming three victories, one pole position, and the championship lead at multiple points in the season.
Despite a multi-car incident at Motegi that cost him valuable points, Lawson entered the Suzuka finale within reach of the title. He finished the year as runner-up to Ritomo Miyata with 106.5 points. The season confirmed his adaptability to a wide range of machinery and track types.
Formula One Career (2023–2024)
Lawson made his Formula One debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix with AlphaTauri, replacing an injured Daniel Ricciardo for five Grands Prix. He scored his first Formula One points with a ninth-place finish at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, where he out-qualified championship leader Max Verstappen. After serving as reserve driver for Red Bull and AlphaTauri, he was promoted to a full-time Racing Bulls seat from the 2024 United States Grand Prix onwards.
His early 2024 races produced a mix of learning experiences and competitive flashes, building momentum heading into the following season.
Racing Bulls Era (2025–Present)
For the 2025 Formula One campaign, Lawson was promoted to the senior Red Bull Racing team to partner four-time World Drivers’ Champion Max Verstappen, replacing Sergio Pérez. His opening rounds with the team included a qualifying of eighteenth and a race crash at the Australian Grand Prix, followed by a last-place qualifying in China. After the second round of the season, Red Bull opted to make a change and Lawson was returned to Racing Bulls, where he remains contracted through the end of 2025.
Back with Racing Bulls, Lawson has continued to develop as a driver in the midfield, focusing on rebuilding his confidence and consistency behind the wheel of the Honda-powered car.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lawson is recognised for an aggressive yet calculated driving style, with a particular strength in wheel-to-wheel combat. He has produced standout results in mixed weather conditions and on circuits that reward commitment and braking stability. His comfort with high-degradation tyres and his race-long tyre management have been key tools across F2, Super Formula, and Formula One, while his partnership with his engineers has continued to mature with each campaign.
Notable Races and Milestones
Among Lawson’s signature results are his Singapore Grand Prix points finish on Formula One debut, his record-breaking New Zealand Formula Ford title in 2016, his lights-to-flag Mugello victory in FIA Formula 3, his Monza debut win in the 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, and his historic Japanese Top Formula debut win at Fuji in 2023.
Liam Lawson Career Wins
Lawson has recorded victories across karting, junior formulae, DTM, Super Formula, and Formula One support categories. His win portfolio reflects a steady rise through international motorsport, with championship success in Formula Ford and the Toyota Racing Series, race wins in Formula 3 and Formula 2, a competitive DTM campaign, and three victories in Super Formula.
Junior Single-Seater Highlights
Lawson claimed the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship in 2016 with fourteen wins from fifteen races, the Toyota Racing Series title in 2019, three FIA Formula 3 wins in 2020, and four FIA Formula 2 victories across the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His first F2 win came on debut at Bahrain in 2021, while his 2022 campaign with Carlin produced wins at Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps, and Abu Dhabi.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of single-seaters, Lawson recorded three victories in the 2021 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, including a debut win at Monza that made him the youngest race winner in series history. In Super Formula, he took three wins in 2023 and finished as runner-up in the championship.
Liam Lawson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lawson was raised in Pukekohe, New Zealand, in a family that supported his racing ambitions from an early age. His parents sold their family home to help fund his transition through karting and into single-seater racing, a sacrifice that played a central role in his development as a young driver. His older brother also raced in karts and helped introduce him to the sport.
Personal Life
Lawson continues to spend time in New Zealand when his racing schedule allows and is known to return annually for the City of Sails karting race in Auckland. Details about his marital status are not publicly confirmed in the available verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Lawson’s 2025 season opened with a high-profile promotion to Oracle Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen. At the Australian Grand Prix, he qualified eighteenth and retired from the race in changeable conditions. The following round in China brought further challenges, with last-place qualifying for both the sprint and the main race before recovering to twelfth in the feature event.
After the opening two rounds, Red Bull opted to rotate drivers, and Lawson returned to Racing Bulls for the remainder of the 2025 campaign. Back in a familiar environment, he has worked on rebuilding race pace and maximising each weekend with the Honda-powered package. The remainder of the season offers a chance to reset, deliver consistent points finishes, and reaffirm his standing as a long-term Formula One talent.