Liam Lawson confirms Super Formula drive for 2023

Liam Lawson will race in Japan next year alongside his duties as Red Bull reserve driver.

The Kiwi will race in Super Formula with championship-winning Team Mugen, after two season in FIA Formula 2.

"I was surprised by how quick the car was," said Lawson during a test at Suzuka.

"I knew it was going to be quite a step up from Formula 2 with the way the aero works on this car, but I was surprised by how much of a step it is."

"It's very, very quick."

"I was also surprised at how nice it is to drive."

"It does what you want it to do, especially in high-speed corners."

Lawson was tenth fastest and the top rookie on the first day of testing before taking part in longer race simulations on the second day.

"It's very different to Formula 2."

"The car is lighter and the aero much more effective so in preparing you to drive a Formula 1 car, this for me is a much better step."

The young Kiwi was full of praise for the Japanese circuit.

"I played it a lot on Formula 1 games, it's a pretty iconic track."

"It was very cool to drive around, especially in a Super Formula car, which I think perfectly suits it."

"It's a very high-speed track with very high speed sections and in this car it's very on the limit."

"If you make a mistake it'll bite you pretty hard but the adrenaline you get from that is pretty cool!"

Lawson's management sees the role as a step up from his Formula 2 duties, with race experience in a car closer to F1 specifications.

The Kiwi will act as reserve driver for the Red Bull F1 team at up to 19 rounds next year as he focuses on the Super Formula campaign.

With limited testing in the Japanese series, Lawson will have a further two-day pre-season test in March before the season begins in April.

"The level here is very high," said Lawson.

"The local drivers have done lots of years in this car and at these tracks so they're very experienced and very quick."

"There's potentially a few more foreigners next year, but it's going to be extremely tough with how quick the local guys are."

The 2023 Super Formula season begins 7-9 April in Shizuoka.