Red Bull sees 'very different picture' from Liam Lawson in return

Liam Lawson's three-race return to Red Bull has painted "a very different picture" from his brief and turbulent spell with the team last year, according to Racing Bulls boss Laurent Mekies. The 24-year-old New Zealander stepped up as a substitute for the injured Isack Hadjar and has delivered a seventh-place finish in the Netherlands, a sixth in Spain, and a points-scoring result in Italy despite early contact damage.

Why it matters:

Lawson's strong stand-in performances are reshaping perceptions of his readiness for a top seat. After being demoted just two races into the 2025 season in favor of Yuki Tsunoda, his calm, focused approach is now making a case that he belongs at the front — and could influence Red Bull's future driver decisions.

The details:

• Lawson finished P7 at Zandvoort, P14 in Italy after contact with Nico Hülkenberg damaged his front wing, and P6 in Madrid.
• Mekies praised his adaptability: "We all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car. He has done that to the best of our expectations."
• The Racing Bulls boss highlighted the "very important points" collected in Madrid and Zandvoort, saying: "It's a very different picture compared to the first two races of 2025 when he was in the team."
• Mekies also credited Lawson's growth: "He's very calm in the car, very focused. He's focused on the essentials, trying to get the basics right, and it's working for him."
• This stands in sharp contrast to Lawson's two-race stint alongside Max Verstappen at the start of 2025, which ended in a demotion back to Racing Bulls.

The big picture:

Lawson's resurgence is a reminder that time and experience matter in Formula 1. His ability to jump into unfamiliar machinery and deliver points not only strengthens his own reputation but also gives Red Bull more depth in its driver pool — a valuable asset in a season where consistency has been a challenge for the senior team.

What's next:

Hadjar has been making progress from his wrist injury, and a decision on Lawson's availability for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is expected early next week following a rigorous evaluation. Whether he gets another outing or returns to Racing Bulls duties, Lawson has already proven he can be trusted when called upon.