Lawson’s parents paved his way to F1: ‘They still don’t own a home'
Liam Lawson stands on the cusp of a lifelong ambition this weekend, revving up as Max Verstappen’s new teammate at Red Bull for his first full season in Formula 1.
At just 23, the New Zealander has clawed his way to the pinnacle of motorsport, a journey fueled by raw talent, relentless determination – and the crucial sacrifices of his parents.
Their story isn’t one of lavish paddocks or silver spoons; it’s one of a family that gave up everything, including the very roof over their heads, to chase their son’s dream.
Even now, as Lawson prepares to race among the elite, his parents remain without a home of their own—a fact that weighs heavily on his heart.
“They still don’t own a house,” Lawson told GQ. “Because of me.”
A Shaky Start and a Father’s Leap of Faith
Lawson’s racing odyssey began humbly, far from the glitz of Formula 1. At seven, he strapped into a kart in New Zealand, only to finish dead last in every race of his debut season.
The sting of defeat didn’t deter him—it sharpened his resolve. Soon, he zeroed in on the culprit: his subpar equipment.
“I think I complained to my dad for more than a year about my kart,” he recounted. “I’d tell him that the engine sucked, but he just secretly thought that I sucked.”
Liam Lawson with his parents, Jared and Kristy Lawson.
His father, though skeptical, listened. For over a year, the young Lawson’s pleas echoed in their home until, finally, his dad relented.
“Eventually, he got sick of me whining and bought two good engines, and we put them on for the first time at this big race,” Lawson recalled. “And when we went out, we qualified first.”
That weekend was a revelation. “We started racing at the front all the time,” he said. “That was the definitive moment, when karting became serious. It was always serious to me. But for my dad, everything changed that one weekend.”
What began as a child’s persistence transformed into a family mission. The Lawsons saw potential ignite before their eyes – and they decided to fan the flames, no matter the cost.
A House Sold, A Future Built
As Liam’s talent blossomed, so did the demands of his burgeoning career. Karting gave way to higher tiers of motorsport, each step more expensive than the last.
To keep up, his parents made a choice that would alter their lives irrevocably: they sold their family home. Every dollar went into engines, tyres, travel—anything to give their son a shot at the top.
It was a gamble rooted in love, a bet on a boy who’d once trailed the pack but now led it.
Because of him, Lawson’s parents traded stability for his speed, a brick-and-mortar foundation for one built on asphalt and ambition.
It’s a debt he can’t repay – not yet – but one he now carries into every race, every lap, every moment under the Red Bull banner.
Rising Through the Ranks—and Facing Heroes
Lawson’s ascent wasn’t without turbulence. After cutting his teeth in karting, he stormed through junior formulas, eventually catching Formula 1’s eye. His debut came in 2023, subbing for Daniel Ricciardo, before replacing him outright last season at RB.
His performances – gritty, fearless – convinced Red Bull’s top brass to entrust him with the coveted seat alongside Verstappen.
But his efforts to stand out stirred tension out on the track with rivals like Sergio Perez, whose spot he claimed, and Fernando Alonso, a childhood idol turned adversary.
“It’s funny, because I’ve met a lot of guys that I looked up to as a kid, like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso,” Lawson said.
“When you’re younger, they’re your heroes. Now, they’re my competitors. I mean, the first time I met Alonso, he yelled at me. Maybe he was having a bad day.”
The memory stings, a reminder that the road to the top is paved with both triumphs and bruised egos.
Yet amid the rivalries, Lawson found an unexpected ally in Ricciardo. The Australian’s grace during their transition left a lasting mark.
“I actually spoke to Daniel a lot when it was happening,” Lawson said. “I will always have so much respect for him. Throughout the whole ordeal, from when the rumours started to when they were confirmed, he never said a bad word about or towards me.
"He never made it about me and him, because at the end of the day, it wasn’t our decision. It’s up to the team, and what they decide to do. He was so good to me, through all of it.
“Fast forward to December, when I got the Red Bull seat, and Daniel is still the only driver, past or present, to send me a message about it, congratulating me,” Lawson added.
“It says a lot about him as a person.”
Indeed, in a sport often defined by cutthroat competition, that gesture stands as a beacon of humanity - one Lawson won’t forget.
The boy who once complained about a sputtering kart now commands one of the fastest machines on Earth, but the journey here was never his alone.
As the lights go out this weekend in Melbourne, Liam Lawson will race not just for glory, but for the two people who traded their home for his future. In every corner, every overtake, their faith propels him forward – homeless, perhaps, but never without heart.
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