However, that wasn’t a possibility as Red Bull weren’t keen on losing their reserve driver, not least because they may need to draft him in to one of their teams – Red Bull or RB – if Sergio Perez’s form tails off in the next few races.
They are locked in a tight fight with McLaren for the constructors’ championship and committing to loaning out Lawson for the rest of the season simple wasn’t an option. Equally, Williams weren’t willing to take Lawson on the basis they could have to release him during the season if Red Bull required his services.
There were some suggestions that Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher could be in contention – but sources say the German son of seven-time world champion Michael was never a frontrunner for a step back onto the grid with Williams.
With Williams convinced a change was required immediately, they opted to promote from within and take on their junior academy driver Colapinto, whom they ran during FP1 at Silverstone earlier this year.