One man who is in a position to answer that is Helmut Marko. Red Bull’s (and sister team, Alpha Tauri) head of Motorsport and Talent. While many Formula 1 teams have confirmed driver lineups for the upcoming season, AlphaTauri remains a notable exception. Although initially designated as AlphaTauri's reserve driver, Lawson was not given the opportunity to step into the role when Nyck de Vries was dismissed from the team. Nevertheless, his recent outings as a substitute for Ricciardo have garnered attention, leading to speculation that he might secure a full-time seat with AlphaTauri for the 2024 season.
Marko is not a man to tolerate underperformance and he likes what he see in Lawson. And to that point, he seems to be opening up around Lawson being on the grid next year.
Speaking with Austrian TV network, Servus, this week Marko hinted that if Lawson was to secure the Super Formula championship in Japan, it may well be on the cusp of happening.
“He is now still driving in the Japanese championship, and there he is second in a very, very difficult battle. The cars are faster there than in Formula 2,” Marko said.
“However, because it is in Japan, it is not viewed that way here. Maybe he can win the title there. Will he get a [full-time] seat instead of [staying] a reserve driver? That could happen quickly.”
He also drew a comparison between the 21 year old and the great Bruce McLaren.
“He is a tough but very smart man in a fight, a bit like Bruce McLaren. This is certainly someone for the future. The speed was there [at Monza], and that is a good sign.”