Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Scuderia AlphaTauri prepares to drive in the garage during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on September 22, 2023 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

Formula 1 News: Lawson switches to #30, Silly Season Update

Liam Lawson will carry #30 when he returns to the Formula 1 grid at Circuit of the Americas later this month for the Visa Cash App RB team, replacing the #40 he ran last year when he replaced an injured Daniel Ricciardo (at Zandvoort) for four races in 2023.

#40 Liam Lawson, (NZL)Alpha Tauri, Honda during the Italian GP, Monza 31 August-3 September 2023 Formula 1 World championship 2023.

Numbers are temporary in F1 until you become a full-time driver

Below is our latest 2025 F1 Silly Season update, including car numbers, with still one seat to fill at Audi Sauber.

Valtteri Bottas wants to retain it, and Franco Colapinto and Gabriel Bortoleto are eager to take it away.

Having secured a race seat with Red Bull-owned RB, Liam Lawson is mindful he could lose his Formula One chance in months if he fails to perform for the rest of the season.

Lawson, however, said he was guaranteed nothing beyond the six races left in the current season.

“I’ve been given this opportunity for a reason. But obviously, it’s always performance-based,” Lawson told the New Zealand Herald.

“Even when you have a full-year contract or a multi-year contract, those can be broken.

“It’s not set in stone, I’m not guaranteed racing next year.

“That’s the target, that’s why they’ve given me this opportunity – to prepare me for hopefully driving next year.

“But they still need to evaluate how I go in the car.”

Last Updated October 1, 2024

2025 AutoRacing1.com F1 Silly Season Table
Team Engine No. Driver Nat. Rating Comments
Audi Sauber Ferrari 27 Nico Hulkenberg Germany Fact Signed thru 2026
43 Franco Colapinto Argentina Speculation Could be loaned from Williams
TBD Gabriel Bortoleto Brazil Speculation McLaren F2 development driver
77 Valtteri Bottas Finland Speculation Could also move to IndyCar
Alpine F1 Team Renault 10 Pierre Gasly France Fact Signed thru 2026
61 Jack Doohan Australia Fact Signed thru 2025
Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team Mercedes 14 Fernando Alonso Spain Fact Signed thru 2026
18 Lance Stroll Canada Fact Daddy owns the team
Ferrari Ferrari 16 Charles Leclerc Monaco Fact Signed thru 2028
44 Lewis Hamilton England Fact Signed thru 2026
Moneygram Haas F1 Team Ferrari 31 Esteban Ocon France Fact Signed multi-Year
87 Oliver Bearman England Fact Signed
McLaren F1 Team Mercedes 4 Lando Norris England Fact Signed thru 2027
81 Oscar Piastri Australia Fact Signed thru 2027
Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes 12 Kimi Antonelli Italy Fact Signed thru 2025
63 George Russell England Fact Signed thru 2025
Red Bull Racing Honda 1 Max Verstappen Netherlands Fact Signed thru 2028
11 Sergio Perez Mexico Fact Signed thru 2025
Visa Cash App RB Honda 22 Yuki Tsunoda Japan Fact Signed thru 2025
30 Liam Lawson Australia Fact Signed but contingent on 2024 performance
Williams Racing Mercedes 23 Alex Albon Thailand Fact Signed
55 Carlos Sainz Jr Argentina Fact Signed
Liam Lawson of New Zealand driving the (40) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 17, 2023 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Liam Lawson of New Zealand driving the (40) Scuderia AlphaTauri AT04 on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 17, 2023 in Singapore, Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool