Lawson and Racing Bulls Target Q3 Following Strong Hungarian Practice

Liam Lawson and teammate Arvid Lindblad have positioned Racing Bulls as genuine contenders for Q3 after a productive Friday at the Hungaroring. Despite early struggles with balance, the team's aggressive setup pivots between sessions allowed Lawson to climb to seventh in FP2, signaling that the VCARB 03 has the raw pace to challenge the established frontrunners.

Why it matters:

Consistency is the cornerstone of the 2026 season, and Racing Bulls' ability to rapidly diagnose and fix handling issues mid-weekend is a positive omen. Securing a spot in the final qualifying session would not only validate the team's technical direction but also provide a strategic platform to disrupt the race order on a track where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

The details:

• Performance Arc: Lawson opened FP1 in 10th but surged to seventh in FP2, clocking a 1m20.041s on his final soft-tyre run.
• Technical Pivots: Team Principal Alan Permane confirmed that the VCARB 03 was "tricky" in the opening session, leading to more significant setup changes than usual between FP1 and FP2.
• Key Optimizations: The technical focus centered on enhancing stability during corner entry and improving traction through the final sector to stabilize the rear end of the car.
• Competitive Landscape: While Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari remains the benchmark, Lawson managed to outpace key rivals including Oscar Piastri and Nico Hulkenberg.
• Teammate Synergy: Arvid Lindblad remained consistent, finishing ninth and 10th across the two sessions, ensuring both cars are operating within a highly competitive window.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to FP3, where the team will further refine the car's balance before the high-pressure qualifying session. With Audi-powered rivals expected to be particularly strong at this venue, Racing Bulls must execute their strategy perfectly to turn Friday's momentum into a Q3 reality.