Liam Lawson’s Sim Racing Setup

For Liam Lawson, the path to Formula 1 has never been linear. It’s been filled with long-haul flights from New Zealand, late nights in simulators, and moments of raw self-belief. And now, after a whirlwind start to the 2025 season that saw him begin alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, Lawson finds himself in a new chapter—racing for Racing Bulls.

It’s a twist in the story that many didn’t see coming. After just two Grands Prix in the top seat, Lawson was moved back to the sister team to make way for Yuki Tsunoda. It’s the kind of moment that could shake a young driver. But for Lawson, it’s another bend in the road—a challenge to face head-on.

The Sim Racing Epiphany

Long before F1, there was a track day in New Zealand that changed how Lawson saw the sport. He was with a friend who had never driven a real race car—only competed in Esports. No karting, no junior formulas—just sim racing. And yet, as the laps went by, Lawson was amazed.

“He had an incredible feel for the car,” Lawson recalls. “The lines, the throttle control—it was all there. And it was all from the sim.”

That moment stuck with him. It made him realize that sim racing isn’t just a tool for practice—it’s a legitimate training ground. One that’s preparing the next generation of racers in an entirely new way.

Virtual Racing, Real-World Skills

Lawson isn’t alone in recognizing this shift. The lines between sim racing and professional motorsport are becoming increasingly blurred. With high-end simulators, drivers can learn tracks, refine racecraft, and mentally prepare for competition—all from their living rooms.

Even Max Verstappen, Lawson’s former teammate and current world champion, is an avid sim racer. He often jumps into virtual endurance races between Grand Prix weekends. It’s proof that the skills gained in the virtual world carry weight in the real one.

In Liam Lawson’s sim racing setup, you can spot high-end hardware from Fanatec—a brand trusted by professional drivers for its precision and realism. Below, we’ve listed the latest components similar to those featured in Lawson’s simulator, so you can take your own setup to the next level.

• Racing Wheel: Clubsport Racing Wheel F1
• Base: Clubsport Racing Wheel F1

Other drivers simulators:

• Lando Norris
• Charles Leclerc
• George Rusell
• Carlos Sainz
• Checo Perez
• Fernando Alonso
• Antonio Giovinazzi
• Max Verstappen

A Tool, Not a Replacement

But Lawson is also clear-eyed about the limits of sim racing. “It’s a fantastic tool, but it doesn’t replace karting or real seat time,” he says. The feel of rubber on tarmac, the split-second decisions at 300 km/h—those are things you can’t fully replicate on a screen.

That’s why, despite his passion for sim racing, he still champions traditional development routes. In his mind, the most complete drivers will come from a mix of both worlds.

The move back to Racing Bulls was, in his words, “tough.” But Lawson isn’t bitter. He knows that F1 careers are marathons, not sprints. Every setback is a chance to learn—and sim racing taught him that perseverance is everything.

For young drivers dreaming big, Lawson’s story is a reminder: whether you start in a go-kart or on a sim rig, what matters most is how much you believe—and how hard you fight for your shot.

See you on the track!