Liam Lawson: Off-Season Stability Will Make 'Big Difference' After Turbulent 2025

Liam Lawson believes securing a stable off-season with Racing Bulls will be a "big difference" for his 2026 campaign, following a turbulent 2025 where he was dropped by Red Bull Racing after just two rounds. The New Zealander, who will partner rookie Arvid Lindblad next year, says the chaotic start left him playing significant catch-up with his rivals all season long.

Why it matters:

Stability and preparation time are critical commodities in Formula 1, especially for a driver trying to establish himself. Lawson's experience highlights how a disrupted preseason can have a cascading effect on an entire campaign, forcing a driver to focus on adaptation rather than optimization. His move to a confirmed seat for a full off-season cycle represents a crucial step in his career development.

The details:

• Lawson effectively lost his winter preparation when he was moved from the Red Bull RB21 to the Racing Bulls VCARB 02 between the Chinese and Japanese Grands Prix in early 2025.
• He described the initial phase as trying to understand "where things were with the car" and the team's development direction while adapting to a new side of the garage.
• The 23-year-old emphasized that in an incredibly tight midfield battle, defined by "tiny margins," missing that foundational work put him at an immediate disadvantage.
• A Driver's Car: Lawson explained the unique importance of the off-season, where all work is hyper-focused on tailoring the new car to the driver's specific preferences and driving style.
• The Adaptation Challenge: He noted the cars he drove were "quite different," requiring him to get his head around a new package mid-season, which was further complicated by in-season developments that changed the car from its 2024 specification.

Looking ahead:

With a contract secured, Lawson is now focused on maximizing his preparation time for 2026.

• He expressed excitement about having a "set amount of days" to work with the team before the season starts, aiming to be "as ready as possible."
• This off-season will be his first proper preparation period in F1, following his 2023 substitute appearances and his late-2024 promotion, which led directly into the disrupted winter of 2025.
• The stability provides a clear runway for Lawson to build consistency and challenge more effectively in the midfield, without the shadow of an imminent driver swap.