Liam Lawson, the New Zealand racing driver, has impressed with his Formula 1 performances in the later part of the season, scoring points in three of the last four grands prix. This includes a personal best sixth-place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix, showcasing his growing competitiveness on the grid.
After a challenging start to the year with Red Bull, Lawson was moved to its sister team Racing Bulls in Faenza, where he has steadily gained confidence and consistency. Despite this resurgence, the 23-year-old remains grounded about his progress and future prospects.
From Early Struggles to Steady Progress
Lawson’s initial experience with Red Bull was difficult, as he struggled to match the pace of teammate Max Verstappen. This struggle led to his demotion to Racing Bulls, but rather than letting this setback affect him negatively, Lawson has seized the chance to rebuild his confidence and drive points for his new team.
His current position in the drivers’ standings reflects this improvement. Sitting 15th with 20 points, Lawson trails his Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar by just two points and holds a ten-point advantage over Yuki Tsunoda, the driver who took over his Red Bull seat.
Maintaining Focus Amid Changing Fortunes
Despite recent successes, Lawson remains cautious about becoming overly optimistic. He acknowledges how quickly circumstances can shift in Formula 1 and stresses the importance of maintaining the same focused approach he’s had throughout the season.
“It’s very easy to get ahead of yourself in the sport, and I think that we’ve had a really good couple of weekends and the speed has been very good,”
Lawson told RacingNews365.
“But things change very, very quickly. So I think the approach for me stays the same as it has been for most of the season.”
—Liam Lawson, Formula 1 Driver
“It’s very, very close and competitive. For me, it’s just extracting everything out of me, but I feel comfortable in the car.”
—Liam Lawson, Formula 1 Driver
Development Through Red Bull’s Junior Program
Lawson’s path to Formula 1 has been strongly influenced by his extended involvement in Red Bull’s driver development system. Starting as a junior, he gained valuable exposure to the technical and team aspects of racing, including simulator work and test sessions.
“Being in this programme for five or six years now, even as a junior, I started driving the simulator when I was in F2,”
Lawson explained.
“I started to get introduced to the team, and then you do your first test days. I’d done a couple of TPCs with them over the years.”
—Liam Lawson, Formula 1 Driver
“Honestly, I had spent plenty of time, especially with the engineering side of the team, for quite a few years.”
—Liam Lawson, Formula 1 Driver
Insights Gained During His Time at Red Bull
Although Lawson’s tenure with the senior Red Bull team was brief, it offered a unique opportunity to observe how a top-tier team prepares for race weekends and manages car setups. This experience provided him with knowledge he continues to apply at Racing Bulls.
“I really learned quite a lot about the car and about the way the team was,”
he stated.
“Just working with the team and understanding their approach to race weekends, their approach to setting up the car and things like that, for sure, there are points that I take from that and there are points that I learn.”
—Liam Lawson, Formula 1 Driver
“That would be the only sort of stuff that I would take from that time, because the rest, I didn’t spend much time there.”
—Liam Lawson, Formula 1 Driver
Reflecting on Challenges and Future Prospects
Lawson has openly recognized that difficulties, such as setup problems with the RB21 during his second race in China, contributed to his demotion. At the same time, he admitted his own performances during that period were not up to the team‘s standards, influencing the decision.
Now focused on delivering steady results with Racing Bulls, Lawson’s cautious optimism reflects his understanding of the demands of Formula 1 and the importance of continuous growth. His recent form indicates he is building momentum and establishing himself as a dependable driver on the grid.
As the season progresses, fans and teams alike will watch to see if Lawson can convert this positive trajectory into lasting success and secure his place in the sport’s top tier for years to come.
