Today, 2022 FIA Formula 1™ World Champions, Oracle Red Bull Racing, took to Australia’s most iconic track in an exhilarating lap of the Mount Panorama circuit during the LIQUI-MOLY Bathurst 12 Hour events.
Red Bull Junior Driver, Liam Lawson, drove the double F1TM title winning RB7 around the iconic Aussie circuit, thrilling fans as they witnessed one of the most dominant machines in Formula 1TM history.
Today marked Lawson’s first visit to Mount Panorama, a track he’s admired since he was a kid.
“Mount Panorama is one of the most famous places in the world,” Lawson said. “It’s a track I’ve wanted to drive since I was a kid. Before I can even remember I would’ve been watching the Bathurst 1000 Supercars race. I watch this as much as I watch Formula 1, so it’s a mix of two worlds here today, it’s pretty special.”
The 20-year-old Kiwi who grew up watching the RB7 dominate the 2011 Championship, described being at the helm of the car as a dream come true.
“Doing something like this is a dream come true sort of moment,” Lawson said. “It’s pretty special to be able to drive a car that I looked up to a lot when I was a kid and to show everybody here, to show the fans.”
Lawson proved himself among the current crop of F1 talent in several outings last year. He completed Friday practice sessions for Alpha Tauri at last year’s Belgian and Mexican Grands Prix, before jumping into the Oracle Red Bull Racing car for FP1 at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Commenting on the uniqueness of the Aussie track in comparison to those on the F1TM and Super Formula calendar, Lawson said his biggest challenge at Mount Panorama was the elevation.
“One of the biggest experiences is the elevation. We sit low in a Formula 1 Car, so when you’re going over these big crests, dropping down, that is really different,” Lawson commented.
As well as watching the on-track sessions, Australia’s biggest F1TM fans got up close and personal with this piece of F1TM history, with the RB7 on display throughout the Bathurst 12 Hour. In the 2011 Championship, the mighty RB7 took 18 of 19 poles, won 12 races and delivered 27 podiums on the Team’s way to a second Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship double in 2011.
Oracle Red Bull Racing will return to Australian shores for the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix from 30 March to the 2 April 2023
