Liam Lawson has made a strong return to Formula 1 during the Dutch Grand Prix, where he showcased his potential at the back of the Red Bull cockpit. After a challenging experience in his first stint with the team, Lawson raised expectations this time, substituting for the regular team driver Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar, who is currently injured.
This time, Lawson had been called up from his satellite team, Racing Bulls, due to his knowledge of the 2026 cars, a logical decision by Red Bull given his experience compared to rookie Arvid Lindblad. His performance at Zandvoort was a great opportunity to demonstrate his growth as a driver and rectify the mistakes from his previous experience in two races in early 2025.
During qualifying, Lawson advanced to reach Q3 with a time of 1m11.733s, placing him eighth on the grid. This result is significantly better than his previous experience, where he qualified 18th in Australia and 20th in China.
Lawson expressed his satisfaction with the teamwork and the better connection he had with the car. ‘It has been a challenge to build myself in such a short time, but the goal was to keep improving throughout the weekend. I feel like I maximized the car’s potential,’ he said.
Unlike his first stint, where he felt restrained, Lawson has managed to enhance his skills as a driver after a year and a half of experience. Changes in car technology have also been a decisive factor, making it easier for drivers to push to the limit and, in particular, allowing Lawson to feel more confident in this new car.
‘The best way to describe it is that, apart from the engine, every aspect of the car is different. Now I know how to throw the car into a corner and what to expect from it,’ he commented. This renewed confidence and accumulated experience have allowed Lawson to defend himself better against the competition.
After his performance in Zandvoort, Lawson has made it clear that conditions can play a fundamental role in a driver’s performance, and he has always believed that under different circumstances, his first stint could have been successful. ‘I’ve always known that with different circumstances, things could have been different. I think you see that now too,’ he concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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