Liam Lawson, the Formula 1 athlete from New Zealand, recently shared a heartbreaking note from his 5-year-old brother, Marcos.

The note, written to their father, asked if he would spend more time with him if he liked racing, like Liam.

What did the note say?

The note said: “Dear Dad, if I like racing, will you spend more time with me? Like Liam.”

Why it matters for Liam Lawson

This note captures the sacrifices made by Liam's family for his career, including his parents selling their family home to fund his racing.

Liam's father drove him to tracks or flew to races every weekend, leaving his other siblings, including Marcos, at home.

What did Liam say to his brother?

When the note came to light, Liam told his brother: “Just, ‘Sorry, man.'”

Liam's brother now laughs about it, but Liam clearly hasn't let it go.

The weight of the sacrifices made for his career sits differently when you're the one who was always being driven somewhere.

Liam was promoted to a full-time seat at Red Bull for 2025, replacing Sergio Pérez alongside Max Verstappen, but was demoted after the second round.

The note, and everything it represents, didn't go anywhere when that happened.

If anything, the weight of it got heavier.

Liam still has a seat at Racing Bulls and is still in the sport.

The bill, in his own words, still isn’t paid.

Liam previously told GQ that his parents, Jared and Kristy, sold their family home to help fund his career, and “they still don’t own a house because of me.”

That line is striking on its own.

The financial sacrifice was visible, documented, something Liam has talked about before.

What the note revealed was the quieter cost, the kids at home watching their dad’s attention follow one child’s dream across the world every single weekend.

Liam has spoken about knowing that if he didn’t deliver, all the sacrifices that he and everyone close to him had made would have been for nothing.

That’s the kind of pressure that doesn’t appear on a timing screen.

Liam's story is a reminder that the climb to Formula 1 is not just about talent and sponsors, but about the sacrifices made by those around you.