Shane van Gisbergen on Liam Lawson and the NASCAR Cup Series

For Shane van Gisbergen, racing has at all times been about perseverance and flexibility — traits he acknowledges in his fellow Kiwi, Liam Lawson. The 35-year-old, who will make the full-time transfer as much as the NASCAR Cup Series subsequent 12 months, was an early mentor to the VCARB Formula 1 driver.

“Clearly, I went the Touring Automobile route, and he went to chase the dream in Europe in single-seaters,” van Gisbergen mirrored. “Now he is succeeded at it. The best way he is gotten to F1 has been a bit of troublesome the final couple of years. However seeing him get this chance full-time now, I am simply stoked and so proud.”

The three-time Australian Supercars champion credited Lawson’s success, partly, to his unwavering dedication. “I might see proper from the beginning how into it he was — at all times watching racing or on the simulator. He simply dedicated himself,” van Gisbergen stated.

The pair, who’re each a part of the Pink Bull household, have additionally used adaptability to their benefit. “You’ve bought to be versatile, which is one thing I’ve at all times tried to do by driving a bunch of various automobiles. It helps you in terms of one thing new within the setup, one thing technical, and even with the climate altering. You’ve bought to have the ability to adapt right away,” he stated. “Liam’s been distinctive at that. Even when F1 wasn’t understanding, he did DTM and different racing that I feel has actually helped him.”

In reality, the two recently reconnected on a dirt oval in Texas for a Red Bull shoot, where Lawson and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda got behind the wheel of a stock car — with some steering from van Gisbergen and NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch. “Liam was very analytical, making an attempt to grasp the automotive and what he wanted to do to be quick,” van Gisbergen stated. “You do not make it to F1 by being a median driver. To look at how he and Yuki might simply leap in a automotive and drive — it was wonderful.”

Regardless of being at completely different level of their careers, the pair are each experiencing the challenges of uprooting their lives to chase their desires overseas. “It’s not simple. Even now, I am so much older, however transferring from Australia to America — being throughout the opposite facet of the world from your loved ones and mates — it’s troublesome,” van Gisbergen admitted. Nonetheless, he’s greater than able to forge a brand new path in NASCAR, the place he’s set to drive for Trackhouse Racing full-time in the 2025 Cup Series.

“I’ve had a blast. It has been like a totally completely different sport — it’s so not like some other racing I’ve ever finished, and that is nice. It has been such a problem and an enormous refresh for me,” he defined. “Some points of it have been a wrestle, particularly on the ovals, however that is what guys grew up doing right here. NASCAR additionally has a extremely hectic schedule, however I like it.”

He’s additionally taken recommendation from veterans like Marcos Ambrose and Kevin Harvick whereas embracing the camaraderie of the NASCAR world. “The entire drivers have been fairly pleasant. You possibly can’t not be pleasant since you race one another each week,” he stated. “The automobiles are very completely different to what I’m used to, however hopefully the Cup automotive will swimsuit me higher. I’ve simply bought to be affected person and never attempt to drive issues. The outcomes will come as soon as I get snug, however I am undoubtedly able to go.”