Liam Lawson has described Racing Bulls' maiden F1 podium as a "massive" boost for the team, despite his personal frustration at the recent Dutch Grand Prix. Lawson's race was compromised by contact with Carlos Sainz, forcing him to settle for 12th after being on track for a strong points finish. His teammate, Isack Hadjar, secured third place, marking a significant milestone for Racing Bulls.
Why it matters:
The podium finish, the first for Racing Bulls since its 2024 rebranding, provides a crucial morale injection for the entire team. It validates their hard work and recent performance improvements, signaling a positive trajectory. Lawson emphasized this, stating, "It's massive, obviously we're pushing everybody here, and something like this could give that little bit of motivation to everybody to keep working hard."
The big picture:
This achievement follows a period of strong form for Racing Bulls, which last saw a podium as AlphaTauri in 2021 with Pierre Gasly. The current Racing Bulls car has shown impressive pace, consistently placing both Lawson and Hadjar in Q3. The team has converted this into points in seven of the last nine races, propelling them to 60 points and seventh in the Constructors' standings. They are now just two points behind Aston Martin and 20 behind Williams.
The details:
- Lawson's Race: Finished 12th after contact with Carlos Sainz, derailing a potential points finish.
- Hadjar's Success: Promoted to third after Lando Norris's late retirement, securing Racing Bulls' first podium.
- Team Performance: Both drivers are regular Q3 contenders; the car is demonstrating competitive race pace.
- Standings: Racing Bulls sits P7 with 60 points, closing in on Aston Martin (P6) and Williams (P5).
- Lawson on Hadjar: "It is cool for Isack, he's done a good job and been very strong recently, so it was great to show the performance, and it's very, very cool for him."
What's next:
The strong performance in recent races and the morale boost from the podium suggest Racing Bulls is a team on the ascent, capable of challenging for consistent points and potentially higher finishes as the season progresses.