Liam Lawson believes that former F2 champion Felipe Drugovich is the driver who especially deserves a seat in Formula 1 right now, with the Brazilian having been on the sidelines whilst acting as Test and Reserve Driver for Aston Martin during recent years.
Drugovich and Lawson both competed in Formula 2 during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, the former year seeing Drugovich beat the New Zealander by two points as they finished in eighth and ninth respectively.
Having made his debut in the category with MP Motorsport in 2020, Drugovich reunited with the team in 2022 and the partnership enjoyed a dominant season en route to winning the championship with a margin of 101 points from closest rival Theo Pourchaire.
Following his triumph, Drugovich became Test and Reserve Driver for the Aston Martin F1 team and has since participated in five FP1 sessions as well as getting behind the wheel for three end-of-season tests.
Lawson and Drugovich competed against each other in Formula 2, with Drugovich winning the championship during the 2022 season
Speaking during an appearance on the Pitstop podcast, Lawson admitted that he was impressed by Drugovich’s performances during his free practice outings as he suggested that the 24-year-old should be on the grid.
“If anybody is deserving a seat right now, it’s Drugovich,” said Lawson. “He’s jumped in and done… his FP [in 2023] in Abu Dhabi was quicker than [Lance] Stroll. He was [second] quickest in FP1, and then this year [in 2024] I think he was quicker than Fernando [Alonso].
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“I don’t know what the run plans were, maybe there was some other stuff, but I think he was quicker than Fernando this year in FP1. He deserves a seat.”
Reflecting on how drivers are being brought through the ranks via F2 and F3 – with several rookies making the step up to Formula 1 in 2025 – Lawson commented: “This year especially [it’s happening].
Drugovich has made several FP1 appearances for Aston Martin, as well as participating in three end-of-season tests
“The problem is it’s just a lottery when you go into it, honestly. It’s so changeable in terms of one year one team’s good, but the next year they’re not good anymore. The car’s the same, the tyres are the same, everything’s the same and somehow they’re just slow the next year.
“MP with Drugovich [in F2], that was the year that he just dominated it in a car that wasn’t meant to be a race-winning car. [He] crushed it.”
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And when pushed on whether Drugovich still has time to reach F1 in his career, Lawson responded: “Yeah, for sure.”
Drugovich was recently confirmed to continue in his reserve driver role at Aston Martin in 2025, with the Brazilian set to alternate duties with former F1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne.
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