Liam Lawson (NZL) AlphaTauri. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 17, Japanese Grand Prix, Friday 22nd September 2023. Suzuka, Japan.
Liam Lawson will continue to race for AlphaTauri at this weekend’s Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix.
Lawson was drafted in to replace Daniel Ricciardo at the Dutch Grand Prix after the Australian suffered fractures to his left hand in a practice crash.
Lawson has finished all four of his races to date and scored a best of ninth in Singapore.
Ricciardo had tentatively targeted Qatar for a return and it is understood that he had a simulator session at the start of the week.
However it has been determined that Ricciardo will sit out the upcoming round at the Lusail International Circuit.
The situation has been complicated by the presence of F1 Sprint, in which there is only one practice session prior to Friday’s qualifying session.
Lawson will consequently remain in the AT04, alongside Yuki Tsunoda, for the entirety of the weekend’s action at Lusail.
The decision gives Ricciardo an extra couple of weeks to recover ahead of the start of Formula 1’s triple header, which includes rounds in Austin, Mexico City and São Paulo.
Formula 1’s Mexico City event clashes with the Super Formula finale in which Lawson is scheduled to compete.
AlphaTauri confirmed in Japan that Tsunoda and Ricciardo will form its 2024 race line-up with Lawson slotting back into a reserve position.
Keyword: Lawson remains with AlphaTauri for Qatar GP