Lawson - Tsunoda Confident Ahead of Vegas Return

RB F1 targets redemption in Las Vegas, with Lawson and Tsunoda expressing confidence in the upgraded VCARB 01’s performance.

Liam Lawson will take on the Las Vegas circuit for the first time this weekend. The RB F1 driver, set to sport a special livery and suit, shared his limited real-life experience on the Strip track in Nevada.

“We’ve done the usual preparations on the simulator. Other than that, I drove a Mustang here last year for a few laps as part of the Hot Laps program. That’s my real-world experience of the circuit,” said Lawson.

“But yes, we’ve been doing the usual preparations. Obviously, the temperature this weekend will probably be the biggest factor. It’s very cold. So, yes, I’m sure it’ll be a challenge.”

“But I’m excited to race in Vegas. It looks pretty cool. I’d like to think that when I’m driving on the Strip, I’ll notice everything, but at the same time, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s not the case. I’m not sure how it is for you, but yes, it’s exciting.”

AlphaTauri endured one of its toughest weekends of the 2023 season in Vegas, but Lawson is confident they can improve: “Honestly, we struggled a lot here last year. So, it’s not the best starting point.”

“But at the same time, we’ve made a lot of changes since then, and we’re hopeful we have a better understanding of how to improve the car this weekend. So, we’re optimistic. I think this kind of temperature changes everything. It makes a big difference.”

“So, yes, I think we’re optimistic. Obviously, as you said, we’re in a very tight fight for sixth place, and our goal is to try to score more points this weekend with both cars.”

After a solid first three races, he will take on as many during this final triple-header of the season. The New Zealander was asked about the progress of his discussions for 2025: “It’s clear that a lot is expected of us, and the season isn’t over yet.”

“So, even though there are indications of what they want me to do and what the future holds, nothing is confirmed for now. For me, it’s about focusing on the races ahead. This weekend is the most important one right now, and then it’ll be the next one. I’ll have a clearer picture after the season.”

Yuki Tsunoda isn’t worried when reflecting on the difficult race in Las Vegas in 2023, as he emphasizes the car has completely changed. The Japanese driver is eager to race on the Strip.

“It’s a different car this year. We had a tough experience last year, but this is a different story,” Tsunoda said. “Driving in these temperatures is unique, it’s the same for everyone, and we’ve learned some things from last year. We hope to be more competitive.”

“There’s a lot of hype around the Grand Prix. So far, the event feels even better than last year, so I’m excited to get back on track here, and we’ll see. I’ve slept well so far, and I’m feeling good. Sometimes it’s tricky to drive after waking up during the day, but so far, everything is fine.”

He is also confident they can regain a spot in the championship, despite Alpine overtaking RB F1 and Haas in Brazil: “It’s pretty annoying! But that’s racing, that’s motorsport—they had a great performance in the last race. We were a bit unlucky with the red flag, but that’s how it goes. We still have time to score points and get back ahead of them.”