Liam Lawson opens up on Red Bull links as F1 newbie tipped to replace Sergio Perez

is preparing for just his sixth Grand Prix start this weekend in Texas and his first of the 2024 campaign, but the young New Zealander is already being linked with a move to . His focus, he insists, is elsewhere.

Lawson impressed while deputising for the stricken Daniel Ricciardo last season and after waiting patiently on the sidelines, the 22-year-old got the call-up he desired in Singapore as news broke that the eight-time Grand Prix winner had been axed.

Now, stepping in alongside Yuki Tsunoda for the final six races of the 2024 campaign, Lawson reportedly faces a shoot-out with his new team-mate as they battle to replace the under-fire Sergio Perez at Red Bull in 2025.

Despite the exciting speculation, Lawson is staying grounded. "I mean, I think [joining Red Bull is] very far ahead, honestly," he said at the . "The target or the goal that's been set out is the same as it's always been since I was 17 and joined the program.

"It's all performance-based, and that's basically how they'll be looking at it. Obviously, Yuki's done a very good job the last couple of years, and especially this year. He's the benchmark for them to compare me against; he's the only one in the same car as me. So I'll be directly compared with him.

"I guess the goal or the expectation from them is for me to compete alongside him. In terms of where that sets me out for next year or in the future, I have absolutely no idea. But that's the target that's been set out."

Perez isn't willing to roll over either. The Mexican racer has been under significant pressure for over 12 months now, although after dropping to eighth in the Drivers' Championship standings after a run of 13 races without a podium, his future is in serious doubt.

Despite the external pressure, Perez is staying cool. "I've done this so many times," he told heading into the weekend in Austin. "I know them [the reporters] well. I know how they try to get the pressure into you. They like to get the quote."

"It's how the sport is. You have one, two bad races, a lot of negative talk about you and so on. But it's also something in the culture of the team as well-with Red Bull. The surrounding talk, the contract talks and so on. It's just part of the game."