Daniel Ricciardo made an appearance at a special event organised by Liam Lawson in Austin ahead of the United States Grand Prix. The former Formula 1 driver was among several familiar faces who attended the New Zealander's first live musical performance.
Lawson swapped his racing duties for a guitar on Thursday evening, taking to the stage at an event called Garage Sessions with Liam Lawson and Friends. The Racing Bulls driver performed alongside his brother Marcus and two childhood friends, with the group putting on an acoustic music session ahead of the race weekend at the Circuit of the Americas.
The event took place at Inn Cahoots in Austin and also marked the launch of Lawson's partnership with Taylor Guitars. The New Zealander performed with a customised LL30 GS Mini Special Edition guitar, featuring his racing number and a cartoon design also found on his helmet.
Lawson's interest in music dates back to his childhood, with his father playing in a band and encouraging both him and his brother to learn the guitar from the age of six. The Racing Bulls driver has continued playing throughout his Formula 1 career, regularly sharing videos and photographs of himself with his guitar on social media.
Speaking ahead of the event, Lawson explained the personal significance of performing alongside his brother and childhood friends: "I feel very proud to be launching my partnership with Taylor Guitars at Garage Sessions."
"Playing the guitar has been a big part of my life since I was young, as my Dad played in a band throughout my childhood. He encouraged my brother and me to play since we were six years old, so it feels like a full-circle moment to be launching a custom LL30 GS Mini SE while performing with my brother and two friends who I grew up playing with."
The New Zealander also explained how music helps him switch off from the demands of Formula 1: "Music is a big part of my life, and I use it to clear my head during the season, so I’m really excited to perform at Garage Sessions where we can connect with fans outside of the track. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone there."
Photo: Race Pictures
Ricciardo joins familiar F1 faces at Lawson's concert
Ricciardo was among the guests attending the performance, alongside Lawson's current Racing Bulls team-mate Arvid Lindblad and former team-mate Isack Hadjar, who now races for Red Bull.
Several country music artists were also present, including Alison Nichols, Jonathon Capeci, Scoot Teasley, Jess Farren and Drake Milligan, who headlined the F1 Grid Gig in Austin last year.
Racing Bulls shared a photograph of Lawson and Ricciardo on social media on Friday, showing the two drivers together before the New Zealander took to the stage. The team accompanied the picture with the caption: "Nothing like seeing a familiar face before hitting the stage."
The occasion also brought together two drivers whose Formula 1 careers crossed paths in 2024. Ricciardo made his final Grand Prix appearance for Racing Bulls at Singapore that year, before Lawson replaced the Australian for the remainder of the season.
The eight-time Grand Prix winner returned to Austin ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, where Lawson will resume his racing commitments with Racing Bulls.
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