Lawson reveals Red Bull call-up came before he even got off the plane

Liam Lawson learned of his Red Bull recall while still on a plane landing in the UK on Monday, with Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane informing him that injured reserve driver Isack Hadjar was out. Instead of routine prep with his own team, Lawson will now partner Max Verstappen at Zandvoort with just one practice session before a sprint weekend.

Why it matters:

This abrupt return gives Lawson another crack at the senior team months after his brutal two-race Red Bull stint in early 2025. With Yuki Tsunoda now settled at Racing Bulls and Lawson sitting ninth in the championship, this weekend doubles as a vote of confidence and a high-pressure audition on one of F1's most unforgiving tracks.

The details:

• The call: Lawson had "literally landed" and hadn't even deplaned when Permane phoned. His recall was confirmed Wednesday, leaving minimal time to pivot from break mode.
• The car: The RB22 is "completely different" from his Racing Bulls machine, though the shared power unit removes one unknown. Lawson ran the simulator Wednesday but expects Friday to feel "very foreign."
• Sprint squeeze: Zandvoort is a sprint weekend, so only one practice session precedes competitive action. Changeable weather is expected to add another hurdle.
• Verstappen reference: Lawson will study Max Verstappen's data and simulator traces to accelerate his learning, having already spoken with the reigning champion.
• No vindication narrative: Despite last year's demotion for Tsunoda, Lawson dismissed any idea this is personal vindication, calling it a "unique situation" and focusing solely on the weekend.

What's next:

Friday's sole practice will be make-or-break as Lawson builds a foundation for qualifying and the sprint. He cited his 2023 Zandvoort debut—replacing an injured Daniel Ricciardo with zero notice—as proof he can handle chaos. Whether he can deliver from minimal preparation remains the immediate question for Red Bull.