New Zealand driver Liam Lawson has shared his early thoughts after driving the Racing Bulls’ 2026 Formula One car for the first time during the Barcelona Shakedown pre-season testing. With significant changes to the new 2026 car regulations, including smaller, lighter vehicles and a hybrid powertrain split equally between battery and internal combustion, Lawson describes the experience as “very, very different,” reflecting the challenges of adapting to new technology and controls.
Details on the New 2026 Car and Lawson’s Driving Experience
This year’s cars no longer feature the Drag Reduction System, which changes the driving dynamics considerably. Racing Bulls’ new power unit, developed in collaboration between Red Bull and Ford, powers Lawson’s vehicle. The 23-year-old driver acknowledges he has not fully adjusted to the car yet but is optimistic about the learning curve ahead.
“I definitely haven’t got my head around it fully yet,”
Lawson admitted immediately after the testing day.
He elaborated on the car’s unique characteristics and potential for driver influence:
“It’s something that we’ll keep learning over the next few days and weeks when we go to Bahrain as well. But it’s very, very different,”
Lawson noted.
He added,
“It feels like there’s a lot more we can do as drivers potentially to make a difference, which is good.”
Despite the early stage of development, he remains engaged with maximizing the car’s performance.
“But right now, it’s very early days. So it’s very hard to know where we are. But for now, just trying to learn how to optimise the car. I’m enjoying it so far.”
Testing Results and Team Participation
During the testing day at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, seven drivers participated, with Lawson completing 42 laps and ranking fourth quickest. Notably, his former teammate Isack Hadjar posted the fastest time. McLaren and Ferrari were absent from this initial test session. Teams will have one more day of shakedown testing in Barcelona before continuing their preparations with two sessions scheduled in Bahrain, leading up to the Australian Grand Prix in early March.
Focus on Reliability and Performance Expectations
Lawson emphasized the importance of reliability in these early tests.
“The main thing is reliability at the moment. We’ve done a good number of laps today, only a few little things. And honestly, the only issues we really had today were safety precautions, not really any actual issues,”
he explained.
“So far, honestly, on the power unit side, it’s been very, very good. But again, it’s hard to know compared to everybody else where we’re at.”
As Lawson and the Racing Bulls team continue to refine their approach, their adaptation to the new 2026 Formula One regulations and hybrid technology will be crucial in shaping competitive performance in the upcoming season.
