Lawson bowed out of Tremendous Formulation after narrowly lacking out on the title to Ritomo Miyata in last week’s Suzuka finale, as he made his return to the Japanese collection following his 5 grand prix begins for AlphaTauri instead of an injured Daniel Ricciardo.
Though he made a giant impression on the F1 paddock throughout his time changing Ricciardo, the New Zealander was handed over for a full-time drive with the staff in 2024.
As an alternative, Lawson is about to be on full-time reserve driver duties for each of Purple Bull’s F1 groups, precluding a return to Tremendous Formulation motion subsequent 12 months.
INSIGHT: Five moments that swung Super Formula battle away from Lawson
Regardless of not figuring out when he’ll subsequent race, the 21-year-old is making an attempt to see the positives in Purple Bull wanting him to be on name within the occasion of any damage or driver reshuffle.
“Clearly I need to be racing, however the aim is to be in F1,” Lawson advised Autosport. “It’s by no means good to solely have the ability to watch, however I’ll attempt to take advantage of the chance, as I’ve been doing up till now, to arrange.
“As a lot as I want to be racing a automotive, it’s what Purple Bull has determined is the perfect factor for me proper now. They need me to be 100% targeted on being prepared at any level.”
Lawson’s Group Mugen seat alongside two-time champion Tomoki Nojiri, whom he outscored by half some extent, seems set to go to present F2 racer Ayumu Iwasa for 2024.
“I’ll positively miss racing in Tremendous Formulation,” Lawson added. “Particularly having not received the title right here, it’s one thing I might have favored to perform, however that’s the best way it’s.”
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
Liam Lawson, AlphaTauri AT04
Lawson reiterated how useful his Tremendous Formulation expertise had been when it comes to benefiting from his F1 cameos, saying he felt it wouldn’t have been potential had he been coming from half-a-season on the sidelines.
“It’s been precisely what Purple Bull advised me it could be,” Lawson mentioned of racing in Japan. “I knew the automotive was sooner and a step nearer to F1, however it’s additionally issues like the dimensions of the staff, working with a producer like Honda, and the competitiveness of the racing.
“There are loads of similarities between what we’re taking a look at on the automotive on the simulator in F1 and what we’re doing with this automotive. That has been a giant a part of getting ready me for F1.
“I positively wouldn’t have been as prepared for F1 as I used to be if I hadn’t carried out the primary a part of the [Super Formula] season and I used to be simply making the step immediately from F2.
“In the event you have a look at the fellows who’re making that step, you may inform it’s a giant problem, even for a full season. This championship has bridged the hole.”