Confirmation overnight that rising Kiwi single seater star Liam Lawson will take part in a Formula 2 test in Bahrain is not unexpected. Having completed two seasons racing in Formula 3, the ground work has been set for his move up the next rung of the ladder towards Formula One.
It seems such a short time ago that the 18-year-old was just making his debut into single seater racing in the Formula First category back in 2015. , finishing second in the Formula First Winter Series. Over the summer he continued competing in the NZ Formula First Championship finishing sixth overall and first rookie driver.
The following season saw him win the 2016/17 NZ Formula Ford Championship with 14/15 race wins. While the competition may not have been as tough as the last couple of Formula Ford seasons, key people already knew that there was something special about this young man.
The winter of 2017 brought competition in the now defunct Australian Formula 4 Championship where he finished a credible runner-up.
Europe beckoned in 2018 competing in the ADAC German Formula 4 Championship, again finishing runner up.
2019 proved pivotal with his entry into the Castrol Toyota Racing Series at the beginning of the year. His dominant performance at the opening round opened eyes and his securing of the title brought about a phone call from Dr Helmut Marko and the invitation to become a Red Bull Junior driver.
This has set him on his course today and will aid his future direction which appears to be towards a seat in Formula One.
Such a short rise from Formula First through to testing in Formula 2, it begs the question of who do we have in the lower NZ single seater categories that may well follow in a similar direction.
Lawson will have a successful F2 test in the next fortnight. One can only guess and wait confirmation on which team he will compete with in 2021.
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