Motorsport: Liam Lawson following in the footsteps of Brendon Hartley

Liam Lawson in action during the German Formula 4 Championship. Photo / VAR

Promising Kiwi driver Liam Lawson is hoping to follow in Brendon Hartley's footsteps and crack it in Formula 1 one day.

The 16-year-old heads back to Europe today to continue his German Formula 4 Championship after a two-week break back home.

It is the Auckland teen's entry into European single-seater racing and he is making a good fist of things so far.

"For sure it is what we hoped," Lawson told The Herald. "We knew it would be a huge step up from what I am used to. I have really enjoyed it.

"We are now halfway through the season and I am running second in the points, which is really good.

"We had high expectations but we knew it was going to be very difficult so we are happy."

Lawson trails leader Lirim Zindeli by 24 points in the championship fight with a big gap back to third. But Lawson's form has shown big improvement the longer the season has gone on.

"We had troubles in the first round – car issues in qualifying, which meant I started two of the races from right at the back and we were always playing catch up.

"We have definitely been catching the leader in the past couple of rounds and we will try and keep this ball rolling and try to challenge him for the championship."

The championship is the same one that fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong contested last year – Armstrong has progressed to the European Formula 3 Championship this season and leads the standings at present.

Alongside Lawson are some famous names in world motor-racing – Enzo Fittipaldi (grandson of two-time F1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi), David Schumacher (son of former F1 racer Ralf Schumacher and F1 champ Michael Schumacher's nephew)and Jack Doohan (son of former Aussie MotoGP star Mick Doohan) to name a few.

The pick of guys are the ones that will progress through the ranks, eventually making it all the way to Formula 1.

Lawson has his eyes focused on making those jumps over the coming years and admitted he has been inspired by what Hartley has done with his career.

"For me that has always been the goal," Lawson said. "A lot of people say it is not possible and why do you even try but that has always been my goal.

"There are opportunities that are really cool but my main goal will be Formula 1 and I will keep pushing to do that until it completely fails.

"Brendon has given New Zealand hope in that sense in Formula 1. It has given all the young Kiwis something to aspire to."

Lawson is back in action at Hockenheimring at the German Formula 1 Grand Prix meeting next month.