Liam Lawson Makes F1 History With Red Bull Redemption at Dutch GP

Liam Lawson is set to rejoin the senior Red Bull team for this weekend's Dutch Grand Prix after Isack Hadjar was ruled out with a wrist injury sustained in training. The move marks a remarkable turnaround for the New Zealander, who becomes the first driver in Red Bull's modern history to reclaim a seat he had previously lost.

Why it matters:

The senior Red Bull cockpit has been a notorious one-way exit in recent years. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and even Yuki Tsunoda were all dropped from the team without ever returning. Lawson's recall breaks that pattern and offers a rare second chance in a top-tier car, with the RB22 now capable of running near the front of the grid.

The details:

• Hadjar's injury: The French rookie was sidelined after suffering a wrist injury during a training session, forcing Red Bull to trigger another round of its increasingly complex driver rotation.
• The swap: Tsunoda moves across to Racing Bulls to fill Lawson's seat, partnering Arvid Lindblad. Lawson, in turn, steps up to partner Max Verstappen.
• Lawson's 2025 nightmare: He was promoted to replace Perez but lasted just two races. An engine issue hampered him in Australia, and a crash in wet conditions followed. He was then dropped after a difficult weekend in China, his first visit to the track.
• 2026 resurgence: Since returning to Racing Bulls, Lawson has climbed to ninth in the drivers' standings with 43 points, recording a best finish of sixth in both Monaco and Great Britain. He currently leads all drivers outside the top four teams.
• Historical stakes: If Lawson can translate the RB22's pace into a top-three finish, he would deliver New Zealand's first F1 podium since Denny Hulme's runner-up result at the 1974 Austrian Grand Prix.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Lawson's performance at Zandvoort as he attempts to prove that his early 2025 dismissal was premature. A strong result against Verstappen would not only validate Red Bull's decision but could also finally settle the team's turbulent driver pipeline.