Now, here is something you do not see every day in the paddock. According to Crash.net, Visa Cash App RB's Liam Lawson is trading his racing helmet for a custom guitar to headline a live music set at the United States Grand Prix next weekend.
That makes him the first-ever active F1 driver to take on such a feat during a Grand Prix weekend, stepping straight into the spotlight at Austin's Esses Bazaar rather than taking the quiet instrumental route. While others might dabble in classical piano, Lawson is reuniting with his childhood band—featuring his brother—for a full live performance during VCARB's Garage Sessions on Thursday the 22nd of October.
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,
It turns out that his secret paddock hobby of strumming guitars and collaborating with country artists is more than just social media content. To celebrate this stage debut, he will be playing a custom-made guitar in collaboration with Taylor Guitars, featuring a pink-to-white ombre finish and his racing number right on the pickguard.
Lawson is certainly no stranger to showing off these talents. He has previously jammed with country music artist Warren Zeiders and even taught his Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar how to play guitar last year.
Despite racing in front of thousands around the world, this Austin performance marks his very first live musical appearance in front of an audience, taking him into completely unfamiliar territory.
"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," Lawson explained.
Whether his musical talents can match his abilities behind the wheel remains to be seen, but the New Zealander will certainly have a different kind of audience to impress before turning his attention to the Circuit of the Americas.
