Liam Lawson Rejects 'Easy Car' Claims for Racing Bulls

Liam Lawson has dismissed the notion that his Racing Bulls car is the easiest to drive on the grid, following his impressive fifth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The New Zealander argued that without driving every car, such comparisons are unfounded.

Why it matters:

Lawson's strong recent performances, including a career-best fifth in Baku and a third-place start in qualifying, highlight Racing Bulls' competitiveness. The debate around the car's 'ease of drive' touches on the team's engineering prowess and Lawson's skill in extracting performance, critical as he solidifies his F1 career and seeks a permanent top-tier seat.

The details:

• Lawson achieved his best F1 result, finishing fifth in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, building on his highest grid slot of third in qualifying.
• This marks a significant turnaround for Lawson, who has scored points in four of his last seven races after a slower start to his return with Racing Bulls.
• The improved performance has led some pundits to suggest the VCARB 02 is a 'benign' or 'easy' car to drive compared to rivals, a theory Lawson firmly rejected.
• Lawson's Stance: He emphasized, "Unless you drive every single car on the grid, how can you know what each car is like to drive?"
• He highlighted the car's consistency across various tracks: "It's a consistent car. It's something that we can definitely say, and be proud of, that across the board, at all sorts of different tracks, it's consistently fast."
• Performance, Not Ease: Lawson clarified that while the car has speed, this doesn't equate to it being 'easy' to drive, but rather that the team has been effective in utilizing its potential.

What's next:

Lawson is now heading into a series of races at circuits where he has prior F1 experience, starting with Singapore, where he finished ninth in 2023. His consistent performance and ability to maximize the car's potential will be crucial for Racing Bulls.

• He aims to maintain the team's current consistency and push for even better results.
• Despite not matching Williams' pace in Baku, Lawson views their current performance as "extremely positive" and a strong foundation for future races, particularly if they can consistently deliver similar results.
• His continued strong form could significantly impact his prospects for a permanent F1 seat, especially given speculation around his teammate Isack Hadjar's potential move to Red Bull in 2026.