Shane van Gisbergen on Liam Lawson and the NASCAR Cup Series

For Shane van Gisbergen, racing has all the time 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 way in which he is gotten to F1 has been slightly 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, partially, to his unwavering dedication. “I may see proper from the beginning how into it he was — all the time watching racing or on the simulator. He simply dedicated himself,” van Gisbergen stated.

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

Actually, 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, attempting 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 observe how he and Yuki may simply soar in a automotive and drive — it was superb.”

Regardless of being at completely different level of their careers, the pair are each experiencing the challenges of uprooting their lives to chase their goals overseas. “It’s not simple. Even now, I am lots older, however shifting from Australia to America — being throughout the opposite facet of the world from your loved ones and pals — it’s troublesome,” van Gisbergen admitted. Nevertheless, 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 very completely different sport — it’s so in contrast to some other racing I’ve ever achieved, and that is nice. It has been such a problem and an enormous refresh for me,” he defined. “Some elements of it have been a wrestle, particularly on the ovals, however that is what guys grew up doing right here. NASCAR additionally has a very hectic schedule, however I adore it.”

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