Lawson on Alonso Clash: "First Time We Met, He Yelled"

Liam Lawson reflects on his intense rise to F1, his family’s sacrifices, and the surreal moment Fernando Alonso shouted at him.

Liam Lawson is gearing up for his first full season in Formula 1 with Red Bull, but his journey to the top wasn’t always smooth. The New Zealander admits that even his own parents didn’t immediately see his potential. In fact, he had to convince his father to invest in better equipment just to prove he had what it takes.

“I think I complained to my dad for over a year about my kart,” Lawson told GQ. “I kept telling him the engine was terrible, but deep down, he probably thought I was the problem. Eventually, he got tired of my whining and bought two good engines. We installed them for the first time at a big race.”

“That day, we qualified on pole and started leading races consistently. That’s when karting became serious. For me, it had always been serious. But for my dad, everything changed that weekend.”

Once his talent became undeniable, the Lawson family made a huge sacrifice—they sold their house to fund his career. To this day, they haven’t been able to buy another, something Lawson carries with a heavy heart.

“They still don’t have a house. Because of me.”

Respect for Ricciardo

After stepping in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo in 2023—and again in 2024 after the Australian was dropped—Lawson reflects on his relationship with his predecessor.

“I talked to Daniel a lot during that time. I’ll always have huge respect for him.”

“Throughout the whole situation, from the early rumors to the final decision, he never said a single bad word about me. He never made it about him or me, because in the end, it wasn’t our decision.”

“It was up to the team. But he was great with me through all of it. And in December, when I got the Red Bull seat, Daniel was the only driver—past or present—to text me congratulations. That says a lot about the kind of person he is.”

A Tough Waiting Game

After filling in for Ricciardo, Lawson had to step aside when the veteran returned from injury. He was assured by Red Bull’s Christian Horner that he had a future with the team—but only if a seat became available.

“When I stepped away in 2023, Christian told me straight up that I wasn’t getting the drive because Daniel was coming back,” Lawson explained.

“But he also said it wouldn’t be permanent and that I’d get a seat eventually. His goal was to put me in a car within 12 months. In this sport, opportunities don’t just sit around waiting for you.”

“Last year was an emotional rollercoaster. Obviously, you never want bad things to happen to someone, but I knew that the only way I’d get a seat was if someone else lost theirs. Watching the season play out was brutal.”

“There were races where it felt like an opportunity was right there, and then suddenly, it was gone. Meanwhile, Red Bull kept testing me, and I just had to take every opportunity they threw at me. It wasn’t an enjoyable experience.”

Facing His Heroes

During his six-race stint, Lawson pushed hard to make an impression—sometimes clashing with veterans like Sergio Pérez and Fernando Alonso. The latter was one of his childhood idols, which made their on-track battles even more surreal.

“It’s funny because I’ve now met so many of the guys I admired as a kid, like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. When you’re young, they’re your heroes. Now, they’re my rivals.”

“The first time I met Alonso, he yelled at me. Maybe he was just having a bad day.”