Negotiations between Williams and Red Bull to send Liam Lawson on loan could become complex
Over the last few days, LWOS has reported extensively on the drivers who could replace Logan Sargeant mid-season. Should Vowles decide to replace the 23-year-old, the most likely substitutes are either Mick Schumacher or Liam Lawson. However, unique circumstances could play a role in Lawson’s availability.
Like most Red Bull drivers, Lawson has experienced plenty of uncertainty in the last twelve months. Both on and off the track, Red Bull’s next steps are difficult to anticipate.
Still, Red Bull have made clear they are open to sending Lawson on loan to Williams. Giving the Kiwi more F1 experience is a win-win scenario for all parties, at least for the short term.
However, there is an important variable to consider.
Sergio Perez is still under evaluation at Red Bull – despite the latest wave of support from Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
Because of this, Red Bull will almost certainly want to implement a clause allowing them to recall Lawson from Williams.
If either Ricciardo or Tsunoda replace Perez at Red Bull in the coming weeks, then the reigning Champions would want the possibility to put Lawson in a VCARB seat.
Considering the Austrian team’s history with their drivers, maintaining flexibility is always a priority. Christian Horner has already stressed that Lawson will only be sent on loan if the terms satisfy his team.
This could be perceived as an unnecessary complication for Williams, who surely want to avoid a scenario where they have to replace Lawson in a few races with someone else.
Mick Schumacher is the more straightforward choice
Partly because of this potential sticking point, Mick Schumacher is the more obvious candidate to join the Grove-based team.
He is readily available to race for Williams, having been active in the paddock for eighteen months as a Mercedes reserve driver.
Mercedes are also enthusiastic about giving Mick Schumacher an opportunity, as Toto Wolff has explained. It is no secret the 52-year-old team principal wants to give the German driver another chance on the grid.
He has attempted on previous occasions to land the youngster a place in F1, albeit unsuccessfully.
Crucially, unlike Lawson, there are no complicated scenarios where Schumacher would need to be replaced before the season ends.
Ultimately, extensive negotiations will determine the next steps. There are several paths available to James Vowles, and it is his responsibility to choose the best one for Williams.
