Montoya: Red Bull should keep Lawson for Madrid, not rush Hadjar

Juan Pablo Montoya has urged Red Bull to keep Liam Lawson in the car for next week's inaugural Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, warning against rushing Isack Hadjar back from injury. The former F1 driver believes Lawson's impressive stand-in performance, which included a strong qualifying display and a points finish, has earned him another chance.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's driver lineup decisions are under scrutiny as the team balances short-term results with the long-term development of its young drivers. With Lawson proving competitive and Hadjar recovering from injury, the choice could impact the team's momentum in both the drivers' and constructors' championships.

The details:

• Lawson was a last-minute call-up for the Dutch Grand Prix after Hadjar suffered a wrist injury during the summer break. Yuki Tsunoda stepped up from Racing Bulls to fill Lawson's seat alongside Arvid Lindblad.
• Despite minimal preparation and just one practice session, Lawson closely matched Max Verstappen in qualifying and finished seventh, scoring six points.
• Montoya, speaking on F1 TV's Weekend Warm-Up, praised Tsunoda's cameo: "Yuki showed the pace he had in the race, passing people, the aggression. He did the job. He didn't make mistakes."
• On Lawson, Montoya advised Red Bull to be patient: "Let's be smart. We'll get a couple more weeks of recovery, and prepare Liam properly for Madrid because it's a new track for everybody."

By the numbers:

Lawson sits ninth in the drivers' standings with 49 points, while Hadjar is eighth on 68. Verstappen is sixth with 112, and Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli leads the championship with 242.

What's next:

Lawson continues to deputise at this weekend's Italian Grand Prix at Monza. The Spanish Grand Prix takes place from 11-13 September at the brand-new Madring circuit, a fresh challenge for every team.