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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiam Lawson during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. Iamge: Rudy Carezzevoli\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiam Lawson during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. Iamge: Rudy Carezzevoli\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
The rumours emerged amid suggestions Supercars organisers had approached teams about freeing up a seat for Lawson for the New Zealand double-header during the Formula 1 calendar gap, created by the cancellation of April\u2019s races in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.<\/p>\n
The Racing Bulls driver revealed he was blindsided by the rumours upon arriving back in New Zealand, despite widespread reports suggesting a wildcard entry was being explored for the Kiwi rounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI landed in New Zealand and my phone was blowing up with like, \u2018Oh, Liam you\u2019re racing Supercars next week\u2019,\u201d Lawson told Speedcafe and other media.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I was like, I didn\u2019t even know I was racing Supercars next week!<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I don\u2019t really know how everybody else seems to know that I\u2019m racing a Supercar next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut, yeah, it was a very cool idea. It\u2019s obviously a series that I\u2019ve grown up watching and I would love to do it at some point for sure.<\/p>\n
Click here <\/a>to see what it takes to build the Gold Coast street circuit <\/p>\n \u201cObviously when my life is not so focused on one thing, maybe. And I can actually put the time in to prepare for it. It would be cool.<\/p>\n \u201cBut yeah, obviously no real truth to that one.\u201d<\/p>\n While the 24-year-old poured cold water on the immediate prospect, he stopped short of ruling out a future switch, reiterating a long-standing interest in the category<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lawson pointed to the appeal of driving different machinery, something he believes only sharpens his skillset, and highlighted Supercars as a category he holds in high regard.<\/p>\n The Kiwi has driven a Blanchard Racing Team Ford Mustang at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival and more recently a Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro at Highlands Motorsport Park.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDriving different cars, I don\u2019t think anything really hurts you too much. Always having that level of adaptability is good,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cSupercars especially\u2026 I think the series is amazing. I think they do such a good job to keep the cars raw.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know they still have obviously V8s, naturally aspirated. They have sequential gearboxes, which they\u2019re not going away from.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not going towards paddle shifts and other things. So three pedals, there\u2019s no auto-blip and stuff like that.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sort of managing everything themselves. And I think that\u2019s just such a cool thing.<\/p>\n \u201cThe racing has been really, really good as well. So I like the series a lot.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something I would love to do. I\u2019ve driven the car a couple of times and just had a blast.\u201d<\/p>\n He also acknowledged the broader trend of Formula 1 drivers branching out into other categories when schedules allow, such as Max Verstappen<\/a> and Lance Stroll\u2019s<\/a> recent GT3 appearances, referencing his own past experience in GT-style machinery and touring cars.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously I did DTM a few years ago and enjoyed it. I hated the way it ended, but I enjoyed the season through the year,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd getting to work with a different team and a very, very different series \u2013 be a bit more aggressive, throw some dive bombs, slam some doors, stuff like that, was something we obviously can\u2019t do too much in Formula 1. So it was good fun.\u201d<\/p>\n For now, however, Lawson\u2019s focus remains firmly on Formula 1, even as he made the most of an unexpected window away from the paddock.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been good honestly. I was in New Zealand for over a week actually,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cI did have to go and get a new passport, which was successful. So I can now travel for the rest of the season, which is great,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut yeah, spent a lot of time with my family. Obviously I don\u2019t get to see too much. And trained, have a dirt bike track out there, so I rode quite a lot.<\/p>\n \u201cWas very relaxed. It was very refreshing.\u201d<\/p>\n Formula 1 returns at the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.<\/p>\n
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