Lawson's Red Bull return earns Mekies praise at Zandvoort
Summary
Liam Lawson impressed Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies with a seventh-place finish at the Dutch GP, maximising a weekend as a stand-in. Despite a penalty, he took points and boosted his case.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies praised Liam Lawson after the stand-in maximised his Dutch Grand Prix, finishing seventh behind the top three teams. The 24-year-old, filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar, gained a place from eighth when Max Verstappen crashed.
Why it matters:
After two poor outings with Red Bull in 2025, Lawson needed a strong result. This composed drive in a new car proves he can score points under pressure, boosting his prospects for a future seat.
The details:
- Lawson was just a tenth off Verstappen in qualifying, showing immediate pace.
- In the sprint, he started and finished 11th, a tougher run before the main race.
- Despite a 10-second penalty for a yellow-flag infringement, he still finished a lap ahead of eighth-placed Nico Hulkenberg.
- Mekies told Sky Sports: "He took the points of seventh place and that's probably the best he could have done today."
- Lawson admitted: "We really struggled to keep up with the front teams, but I'm sure there's stuff I can learn from."
What's next:
It's unclear if Lawson returns to Racing Bulls for Monza, with Hadjar recovering. But this weekend reminded everyone of his talent, and he'll look to build on it.
Original Article :https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/red-bull-impressed-by-liam-lawson-at-dutch-gp...