Formula One hopeful Liam Lawson isn't getting ahead of himself as his pursuit of a seat at motorsport's top table shifts up a gear in 2022.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The 20-year-old New Zealander starts his second year in Formula Two when the new season gets the green light in Bahrain this weekend.
One of the sport's leading young talents, Lawson took another step closer to his dream in December when he drove for Alpha Tauri in Formula One's end of season test in Abu Dhabi.
But the Red Bull junior driver knew there was still work to do.
"Obviously it's super easy to look at the end goal and be like 'wow, it's just there'," Lawson told RNZ from his base in England this week.
"If things go to plan, there could be testing and stuff like that [this year] but at the end of the day it all depends on how I go and it's all performance based.
"For me there's no point even thinking about it until I achieve what I need to achieve in Formula Two."
There would, though, be more opportunities for Lawson get his foot further inside the F1 door this year.
Alpha Tauri team boss Franz Tost had confirmed Lawson would fill their rookie practice seat, with a new rule in 2022 meaning F1 teams had to use a rookie driver in the opening practice session at two Grand Prix.
The rising Kiwi star also expected to be doing "a lot more simulator work".
While they were chances Lawson would accept with open arms, the focus would be firmly with F2.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
After a debut season where he finished ninth overall, with just one race win and three podiums, he was determined this year would reap better rewards.
"Most drivers goal is to win, that's what we're all here for.
"For me it's focussing on this first round. Making sure we have a good start to the season, improving on things I didn't do so well last year, making those mistakes less this year is definitely a goal."
Competing in just one championship this year may just help Lawson achieve that.
As well as F2, he raced in the German Touring Car (DTM) series in 2021, only missing out on the title after being shunted off the track on the opening lap of the final race.
"It just makes it slightly easier adjusting to the car each weekend," Lawson said of his simplified 2022.
"There's also more racing [in F2] this year, so not big gaps like last year. Quite often I had three or four weekends, whether it be race weekends or testing in DTM, and then I'd go and drive a F2 car I hadn't driven for a month or two and have to adjust in a 45-minute practice.
"I learned a massive amount last year and have a huge amount more experience, so I'm really grateful to have done that (DTM), but now putting everything into F2 is definitely the right move."
And given he was fresh off a long-awaited trip home to New Zealand, Lawson said he was more motivated than ever.
"Had I not gone back I would've mentally been in a different position now.
"It's always important to have those few weeks, because for 11 months you're only thinking of and working towards one thing.
"That downtime at home in New Zealand is so nice. To be able to go back and catch up with family and friends I haven't seen for a whole year and comeback here feeling refreshed and ready."
