Liam Lawson is quickly becoming a top candidate to immediately step in for Logan Sargeant at Williams.
James Vowles, the head of Williams, has already excluded Sargeant from the team's future plans beyond 2024 and was incensed by the 23-year-old American's massive crash during practice at Zandvoort.
This has fueled speculation that Vowles might consider Mercedes' reserve driver, Mick Schumacher, to take over Sargeant's seat as early as this weekend's Italian GP at Monza.
However, another name circulating as a contender is Lawson, despite Red Bull consultant Dr Helmut Marko initially dismissing the idea by stating, "We have our own plans for Liam in the near future."
Marko, however, seemed to soften his stance late Sunday at Zandvoort.
"It's a bigger picture, but we have to see because it can be good for a young driver like that to gain racing experience," the Austrian told Sky Deutschland.
"We wouldn't necessarily stand in the way of that."
Regarding Mick Schumacher's potential as a short-term replacement for the Williams race seat, his uncle Ralf remarked: "There is a rumour that Williams have run out of patience after Sargeant's latest accident."
"Of course Mick is also on the list, but Liam Lawson is also being talked about. So negotiations are still ongoing," added Schumacher senior, who is a pundit for German television.
