Lawson Finds Stability at Racing Bulls After Turbulent Red Bull Start

Liam Lawson says he is in a "much better place" with Racing Bulls in 2026, contrasting sharply with the painful and unstable start to his Formula 1 career at Red Bull just over a year ago. After a demoralizing two-race stint with the senior team in 2025, the New Zealander has secured back-to-back points finishes this season, highlighting a newfound stability and confidence within the Faenza-based squad.

Why it matters:

A driver's mental state and team environment are critical, often underrated components of success in Formula 1. Lawson's journey from a high-pressure, short-lived promotion to a settled role where he can develop consistently serves as a case study in how stability can unlock a driver's potential. For Racing Bulls, having a confident and scoring driver is vital in their tight midfield battle, where every point counts toward the constructors' championship and future resource allocation.

The details:

• Lawson's 2025 promotion to Red Bull was brief and challenging, leading to a swift demotion back to what was then the RB team after just two difficult races.
• He contrasted that period with his current situation, stating, "This time last year, I was fighting for a race seat... Stability-wise, things are in a much better place at the moment."
• His 2026 season has begun strongly with a seventh-place finish in China and a ninth place in Japan, contributing to Racing Bulls' hold on seventh in the constructors' standings.
• Lawson pointed to the team's reliability as a key asset in the early races, allowing them to capitalize on chaos and score points where others faltered.
• He acknowledged the ongoing challenge of understanding the new 2026-spec cars but framed it as an exciting development opportunity for the team.

What's next:

The focus for Lawson and Racing Bulls will be sustaining this positive momentum and converting reliability into consistent performance gains as they better understand the new car. Lawson's "long season ahead" comment underscores that the real test is maintaining this form. If he continues to deliver points and out-perform the car's expected potential, it will solidify his position within the Red Bull driver ecosystem and make him a compelling candidate for any future openings within the top team.