Liam Lawson was blissful to attain his first factors of his FIA Formulation 1 World Championship profession final weekend in Singapore and is happy to be heading to a monitor he has already competed on this weekend for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The New Zealander continues to switch the recovering Daniel Ricciardo at Scuderia AlphaTauri for a fourth consecutive race this weekend on the Suzuka Worldwide Racing Course, a monitor on which he raced on earlier this yr as a part of his regular Tremendous Formulation season.
Lawson is prepared for his first race in Formulation 1 equipment across the circuit, figuring out that the monitor affords little room for error, and he’s eager so as to add to his expertise and factors tally on Sunday.
“I used to be actually blissful to select up my first F1 factors in Singapore and get a tricky race distance below my belt,” mentioned Lawson. “Now I’m enthusiastic about Suzuka, which I do know fairly properly, as I’m racing within the Tremendous Formulation championship this yr.
“It means I’ve examined and raced there fairly a couple of instances and I completely find it irresistible. Clearly being a Formulation 1 monitor, after I first drove it, it was a reasonably cool expertise. It’s very iconic as properly. Extra of an old-school type of circuit, with grass round the entire monitor and never a lot room for error.”
Lawson says the Tremendous Formulation automobiles that he has been driving are as near Formulation 1 as something he has pushed, however he’s anticipating the problem to be a lot completely different this weekend than again in April.
“The Tremendous Formulation automobiles are enjoyable to drive and are as near Formulation 1 as something is, however in fairly a singular method as a result of it’s not the identical feeling as a Formulation 1 automobile,” he mentioned. “The automobile in Tremendous Formulation may be very, very gentle and tremendous agile to drive, with very excessive downforce, so it’s very pleasant. However Suzuka goes to be very completely different in a Formulation 1 automobile.
“I’ve been commuting to Japan this yr due to my reserve roles in Formulation 1, however I’ve spent lots of time there. The meals is superb, and the tradition is basically cool. I’ve actually loved it so much. The followers, even in Tremendous Formulation, are superb and really obsessed with racing.
“Motor sport, generally, is at a really excessive degree. Clearly, having a Japanese team-mate in Japan, Yuki’s going to have an unbelievable quantity of assist, however having raced there this yr, I’m tremendous excited to hopefully see a few of these Tremendous Formulation followers there as properly.
“I’m hoping that we will be robust there, and it helps to know the monitor fairly properly. I’m anticipating it to be very completely different to drive in a Formulation 1 automobile, however I’m excited to go there. I believe, in a Formulation 1 automobile, it’s the most effective circuits you may drive.”
“As an occasion, will probably be the very best of the yr for me” – Yuki Tsunoda
Staff-mate Yuki Tsunoda has failed to finish the opening lap in both of the previous two occasions, with a primary lap retirement in Singapore following a mechanical concern earlier than the beginning in Italy, nonetheless, the Japanese driver is already centered on doing properly in entrance of his house followers.
Tsunoda has already been busy with promotional work forward of the weekend in Suzuka, and he says, at the very least for him, it was unbelievable to have a lot assist final yr on the circuit.
“For the previous two races, via no fault of my very own, I haven’t bought previous the primary lap, however I’ve reset my thoughts, able to bounce again robust in Suzuka,” mentioned Tsunoda. “Since arriving in Japan, we’ve been busy with numerous promotional occasions, getting an awesome welcome from the followers.
“I’m very a lot wanting ahead to this weekend. If I’m trustworthy, I’ve really been wanting ahead to it for the reason that finish of final yr’s race! It’s positively very particular, and the way in which I felt there was utterly completely different to all the opposite Grands Prix, with a lot assist from the followers there. It was unbelievable, and I can’t wait to be again there once more. As an occasion, will probably be the very best of the yr for me.”
Tsunoda believes it’s good that team-mate Lawson has skilled Suzuka already this yr, and he’s anticipating the New Zealander to have one other spectacular weekend as he builds his confidence behind the wheel of a Formulation 1 automobile.
And he’s hoping the upgrades AlphaTauri delivered to the AT04 final weekend in Singapore can assist them break into the factors as soon as extra and maybe even transfer off the underside of the Constructors’ Championship standings.
“It’s good for the entire staff that Liam has expertise at Suzuka, possibly much more than me within the increased classes,” mentioned Tsunoda. “By this weekend, Liam could have raced in three Grands Prix, so he could have extra information, and we’re anticipating a great staff efficiency.
“The upgrades we launched in Singapore appear to work, so possibly we will purpose for the highest ten or prime eight. We have to rating extra factors, and your complete staff is working in the direction of that purpose, with everybody pushing one another ahead to try to obtain it.”
