Liam Lawson anticipating Qatar GP to be ‘more durable’ than earlier races as he continues to deputise for Daniel Ricciardo

Liam Lawson is anticipating a troublesome weekend in Lusail as he as soon as once more readies himself to fill in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo on the Qatar Grand Prix, with the latter persevering with his restoration from a damaged hand.

Ricciardo broke his hand after crashing within the second observe session at Zandvoort in August. Whereas he’s nearing a return to motion after present process surgical procedure, this weekend’s action-packed Dash format in Qatar is simply too early for the Australian.

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Lawson will proceed to deputise for Ricciardo for a fifth race in a row, having impressed within the earlier 4 – together with in Singapore, the place he certified within the top-10 for the primary time earlier than scoring his maiden factors end.

Forward of one other weekend behind the wheel of the AT04, Lawson mentioned: “I drove the Qatar observe within the simulator on the finish of final week. It’s very quick, a really high-speed circuit and fairly distinctive, and I’ve not seen many tracks prefer it, as there’s just one low-speed nook in the entire observe.

“The remaining is simply fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh gear, so I feel it’s going to be thrilling to drive. With just one free observe session, we drivers must know the place to enhance as a result of it’ll get sooner at evening when it’s a lot cooler.

“And we have to know precisely methods to extract every part out of the automotive. I’m anticipating it to be more durable than the races we’ve simply completed.”

He added: “Proper now, I’ve nonetheless bought this chance to maintain attempting to indicate one thing, and I’ll attempt to benefit from it. For now, so long as this lasts, I’ll give attention to it.

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“After which as soon as I step again from F1, it’ll be full give attention to getting ready for the ultimate spherical of the Tremendous System championship at Suzuka on the weekend of the Mexican Grand Prix.

“It’ll be very totally different adjusting again to the automotive, nevertheless it’s definitely been helpful having pushed so many laps at Suzuka all through the Grand Prix weekend.”

F1 Correspondent Lawrence Barretto says…

Crimson Bull and AlphaTauri are taking a cautious method with Daniel Ricciardo because the Australian continues his restoration from a hand harm sustained within the Dutch Grand Prix.

The Australian already has a contract to race for AlphaTauri subsequent season, alongside Yuki Tsunoda, and due to this fact there isn’t a motive to hurry again and danger inflicting additional injury if he’s not 100% match.

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It’s hoped the additional couple of weeks for additional rehab shall be enough to pave the best way for a return to racing motion subsequent trip in Austin, host of the USA Grand Prix and the beginning of a triple header with Mexico and Brazil.

With Lawson performing so strongly – the New Zealander having scored factors as soon as and completed eleventh twice in 4 stand-in performances – it made sense for AlphaTauri to go away him within the automotive for a fifth outing the place he can present what he’s able to in a Dash format weekend for the primary time.