Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson to swap cockpit for guitar at Austin gig before US Grand Prix

Liam Lawson will trade his Racing Bulls cockpit for a guitar when he headlines the VCARB Garage Sessions at Inn Cahoots in Austin on 22 October, one day before practice begins for the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.

Billed as “Liam Lawson & Friends”, the performance is part of the wider Esses Bazaar event. The 24-year-old New Zealander will be joined on stage by his brother Marcus and childhood friends Thomas and Harrison, with whom he says he has been playing since the age of eight. Country singer-songwriters Jonny Capeci, Scoot Teasley and Jess Farren also feature on the line-up, alongside emerging artists Alison Nichols and Drake Milligan.

Lawson acknowledged the difficulty of preparing for a live show around a demanding race schedule. “It’s one of those situations where you never feel fully prepared. You can always do more, but I have such a specific job that this can be difficult to fit into my routine,” he told Racing Bulls.

Despite the nerves, he said the prospect of sharing the stage with people he has known most of his life makes the occasion special. “Excited, but also very, very nervous. To have my brother and childhood friends with me, who I’ve played with since I was eight years old, is pretty cool.”

On his musical influences, Lawson pointed to a childhood shaped by his father’s record collection. “I grew up listening to my dad’s music. 80s rock, mainly. The first concert I went to was Def Leppard when I was eight or nine. My dad told me that if I passed my guitar exam with a distinction, he’d let me go, and I did.” He also cited John Mayer as a later inspiration, praising his songwriting and musical knowledge.

The off-track appearance comes at a strong point in Lawson’s season. He currently sits ninth in the drivers’ championship with 75 points, while Racing Bulls occupy fifth in the constructors’ standings with 100 points. The United States Grand Prix runs at the Circuit of the Americas from 23 to 25 October.