AlphaTauri's 2024 Driver Line-up
AlphaTauri confirmed last weekend that their 2024 driver line-up would consist of Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson, who has been substituting for Ricciardo since he broke his hand in Zandvoort, is set to take a reserve role at the team next year.
Despite the announcement, Lawson managed to finish 11th, ahead of Tsunoda who finished 12th. The pair even had a wheel-to-wheel battle in the opening exchanges of the Japanese GP. However, Lawson was quick to downplay the significance of Sunday's result.
When asked if he was satisfied with beating Tsunoda, Lawson responded, “Not satisfaction. I want to be in the seat, and I don’t have one right now. So, it’s basically doing the best job I can each time I get in the car, and I’ll basically keep doing that for as long as I am driving.”
Lawson's Take on the Race
Regarding the race, Lawson felt that he and his team maximised their performance. He believed that the only cars they were capable of competing against were the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who finished ninth and tenth respectively. However, even they were "too quick" for the AlphaTauri team.
“We didn’t quite have the speed [on Sunday],” said Lawson. “I think that when all the teams finish and there are no retirements, and to be honest the only guys we were really racing were potentially the Alpines today and they were too quick."
This lack of speed meant that AlphaTauri was just outside the points. Lawson added, "The fight with Yuki was aggressive, but I think it was a fair race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, and I think neither of us had the pace to make the top 10. I’m still trying to score points for the team and prove myself every time I get in the car, and I think I did that today.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment of not securing a full-time seat for 2024, Lawson remains committed to doing his best for the team. His performance in Japan, while not satisfying for him personally, demonstrated his potential and dedication to the sport. As he continues to drive, whether in a reserve role or otherwise, Lawson's focus remains on proving his worth and contributing to the team's success.
