Liam Lawson: ‘Man of the hour’ in ADAC Formula 4

• From New Zealand to distant Europe: dreaming of Formula 1
• Lawson in pursuit of leader Zendeli: “We can catch him”
• De Jong talking about Lawson: “He is willing to go all out”

Munich: When he is contesting ADAC Formula 4 races on the circuits of Germany and Austria, his fans and family on the other side of the world follow the action with avid interest. We are talking about Liam Lawson, the speedy New Zealander who competes in the ADAC High-Speed Academy as a member of the Netherlands-based Van Amersfoort Racing squad. And far away from his homeland, Lawson immediately produced peak form. Nine races, two wins, three second places, second place in the table – Lawson has already made his mark in ADAC Formula 4 after three race weekends, with an especially gratifying outcome to the Lausitzring event from which he emerged with two wins and a runner-up trophy.

“At the moment things are going perfectly,” says Lawson. “The weekend at the Lausitzring in particular was outstanding. I never thought it would be possible to produce results like this. We have the speed and the occasional stroke of good luck. Most important, though, is the fact that the team are doing a perfect job and always give me a great car.”

But for the 16-year-old, this still isn’t enough. At the Red Bull Ring (8th - 10th June), he intends to be right out at the front again and to close in on his championship ambitions: “We’ve already tested there; it’s both a great and a beautiful track.” Currently, there is only one other driver ahead of ‘Kiwi’ Lawson in the table – Lirim Zendeli (18, Germany, US Racing - CHRS) – but the lead of the teenager from Bochum has been drastically reduced. While Lawson recently racked up 68 out of a possible 75 points at the Lausitzring, Zendeli could manage only a relatively modest 37. “We still have a long way to go, but we can catch him,” says Lawson, who currently trails Zendeli by 25 points.

The CV of the New Zealander reads like that of many other young talents in the sport. The first outings and successes in karting were followed by graduation to single-seater racing. In 2017, Lawson finished the Australian Formula 4 season as runner-up while claiming the New Zealand Formula Ford title in parallel. Lawson felt ready for the next challenge – a bold move to Europe.

“Since I was a kid, I’ve dreamed of racing there,” adds the New Zealander. “I eventually want to make it into Formula 1, and now I’ve come a step closer to realising this dream.” In July, ADAC Formula 4 shares the billing with Formula 1 on the German Grand Prix weekend. Liam Lawson will then have the opportunity to size up his dream career. “For me, this has to be the absolute highlight of the year.”

Jeroen de Jong, Formula 4 Team Manager at Van Amersfoort, was especially impressed by Lawson’s willingness to leave behind his familiar surroundings: “When a young racer comes to Europe from the other end of the world for the sake of his sport, it shows that he is ready to go all out to achieve his dream. He convinced us of his talent as early as the tests and produced very good results right from the first weekend. He was especially impressive most recently at the Lausitzring. Not only because of his results, but also because of his adventurous but always controlled style.”

Liam Lawson has not only seen a lot in sporting terms over the past few months but has experienced many new things off the track. Life, food and culture in Europe are quite different to what he has known in New Zealand. The 16-year-old still sees family and friends on a regular basis, but only on the internet.

However, Lawson is undaunted by all the new challenges – quite the contrary: “I took these challenges on because I want to realise my dream of getting a foothold in motorsport and one day competing in Formula 1. I have the support of my parents, my family and my supporters, so I’m not worried about anything.”