Liam Lawson Braced for 'Very Foreign' Red Bull Return at Dutch GP

Liam Lawson replaces the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, stepping into the senior team with minimal preparation after spending 2026 at Racing Bulls. The New Zealander admitted the car will feel "very foreign" as he adapts to new machinery with just one practice session before Sprint qualifying at Zandvoort.

Why it matters:

Lawson's abrupt promotion offers a critical opportunity at a time when his Formula 1 future beyond 2026 remains unclear. Having been dropped from Red Bull after just two races in early 2025, this temporary recall is a rare second chance to prove he can deliver in a front-running car under extreme time pressure.

The details:

• Hadjar was ruled out with a wrist injury, forcing Red Bull to select Lawson ahead of reserve Yuki Tsunoda and rookie Arvid Lindblad.
• Lawson becomes the only driver to race for Red Bull, be demoted to its sister squad, and then return to the senior seat, albeit temporarily.
• With Zandvoort hosting a Sprint weekend, Lawson has just one free practice session to acclimatize before qualifying.
• While the power unit is familiar, Lawson stressed the two cars are "completely different," and the narrow Zandvoort circuit combined with tricky weather will compound the difficulty.

What's next:

A strong showing against Max Verstappen could reignite Lawson's case for a permanent top-tier seat, though he insists he is treating the weekend as an opportunity rather than a burden. With Racing Bulls just one place behind Red Bull in the standings, Lawson will aim to carry his midfield-leading form into a package capable of fighting at the front.