Christian Horner speaks as Martin Brundle thinks Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez

Liam Lawson made a beardown commencement successful his archetypal F1 contention aft replacing Daniel Ricciardo astatine VCARB, doing his chances of earning a 2025 promotion to the main Red Bull squad nary harm astatine all

Christian Horner said Liam Lawson drove "like a veteran" astatine the United States Grand Prix arsenic the Kiwi impressed connected his instrumentality to the Formula 1 grid.

Lawson has been handed his archetypal imperishable F1 seat, replacing Daniel Ricciardo astatine Red Bull's sister squad VCARB. It was a determination which drew immoderate disapproval and fans of the Australian person formed uncertainty connected the 22-year-old's chances of doing immoderate amended successful the aforesaid car.

But the New Zealander made a beardown commencement to beingness arsenic a full-time subordinate of the F1 grid. He finished ninth connected Sunday to lucifer his champion Grand Prix effect to date, scoring 2 points and out-performing experienced team-mate Yuki Tsunoda successful the process.

Red Bull squad main Horner was precise impressed with what helium saw. He said aft the race: "It is simply a illustration of 1 and I thought helium jumped successful and helium looked similar a veteran, to beryllium honorable with you. He is simply a large racer.

"I deliberation helium tin beryllium precise blessed with that thrust today. I thought helium drove a large Grand Prix. I mean, starting 19th, finishing successful the points with immoderate large overtakes. He should beryllium pleased with that. He is simply a tough, hard racer."

Lawson spent overmuch of the play duelling with Fernando Alonso who had called the Kiwi an "idiot" earlier connected Friday aft getting successful his mode connected track. It was erstwhile helium passed the Aston Martin operator during the contention that Sky Sports F1 co-commentator Martin Brundle voiced his admiration for Red Bull's newest talent.

And helium made wide his content that Lawson could regenerate Sergio Perez astatine the main Red Bull squad if helium continues to impressment - and the Mexican keeps struggling. Brundle said connected the TV broadcast: "He conscionable passed Alonso connected the past lap. Slipstream down the straight, kept it each nether control, pointed his chemoreceptor into the apex, deed the pedal and a precise cleanable pass. Fernando having a look down the inside, it was lone ever going to marque his tyres a small spot dirty.

"This is precisely the benignant of show Lawson needs to enactment in. If helium does, I tin spot him arsenic [Max] Verstappen's team-mate adjacent twelvemonth astatine Red Bull. If helium drives and truly outperforms this car due to the fact that Sergio is down there. Sergio should beryllium steaming done Tsunoda, [Kevin] Magnussen and [Pierre] Gasly."

Perez finished 2 places higher than Lawson successful seventh successful the main Red Bull car but laboured connected his mode to get there. And helium was 40 seconds down Verstappen who secured a spot connected the podium aft a precocious conflict with rubric rival Lando Norris.

Mirror Sport understands Perez's Red Bull Racing spot for 2025 is not unafraid contempt the declaration hold helium signed earlier this year. If Lawson continues to bushed Tsunoda successful the last 5 rounds of the existent season, the Kiwi volition bash his chances of replacing the 34-year-old nary harm astatine all.