Red Bull boss Christian Horner lauded Liam Lawson’s return showing at Formula 1‘s United States Grand Prix as he admitted the team wants more from Sergio Perez.
Lawson thrived on his comeback F1 appearance as Daniel Ricciardo’s mid-season replacement at RB, gaining 10 positions in the race to seize points with ninth place.
The New Zealander was braced to endure an uphill task as an engine change handed him a 60-place grid drop and ensured that he would be starting right at the back.
Nonetheless, Lawson set out his stool when he clocked the third quickest time in the opening session behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Lawson, starting 19th, managed to overcut RB team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who lined up 10th, with an extended opening stint on the Hard tyre en route to scoring points.
“He’s had a few spats with Fernando [Alonso],” Horner told media including Motorsport Week. “But it looks like he’s been punching somewhat.
“Yeah, I think if you’re getting into a spat and getting your elbows out with Fernando on your first race back in, you’re doing all right.
“And I think that he drove an exceptional race today from 19th to 9th. He was fast. He was courageous. And I thought it was an excellent comeback for him.”
Likewise, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, who is reported to have wanted a change to take place at RB much earlier in the campaign, commended Lawson’s weekend.
“A really great debut,” he told Sky Deutschland. “That was already apparent in Q1, where he drove the third fastest time.
“He was in control at all times and had great overtaking manoeuvres. You have to put the youngsters in the car and then it works. He is definitely a man for the future.”
Marko addresses Perez slump
Lawson’s strong showing contrasted with Perez enduring another wretched weekend as he ended up 40 seconds behind team-mate Max Verstappen in seventh place.
With Red Bull having stated that it is evaluating Lawson’s credentials for a possible step-up to Red Bull, Marko has urged Perez to show an upturn in the coming races.
Asked about the speculation that Perez could announce his retirement in Mexico, Marko replied: It’s a rumour. He himself says there is no truth in it.”
He then added: “Let’s see, but he has to improve his performance.”
Red Bull needs Perez closer to Verstappen
Horner has reiterated that Red Bull requires both drivers to operate at the sharp end as Ferrari’s 1-2 in Austin has seen the Italian marque close the gap to eight points.
“Ferrari congratulations to them this weekend. They’ve been very, very strong,” Horner admitted.
“They’ve got two drivers that are competing at the front. McLaren likewise, their drivers, there’s not a big deficit between them.
“So that’s where we really need for the constructors to have Checo come into play.
“Hopefully, with the support he will receive in Mexico, it will give him that boost.
“Obviously when you qualify out of position, you lose so much time coming through tail-end cars in the top 10 that you’ve then lost contact with the rest of the race.”
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