Liam Lawson is showing his optimism after a solid start to the season, convinced that Racing Bulls can establish themselves long-term in the fight for points.
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The launch of the 2026 season is promising for Liam Lawson. The New Zealand driver secured a ninth-place finish at the Japanese Grand Prix, confirming the points already gathered during the sprint weekend in China.
After three rounds, he holds tenth place in the championship, notably ahead of his rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad as well as Isack Hadjar, despite the latter being signed with Red Bull Racing. A solid start that reflects the progress made by Racing Bulls this winter.
A solid foundation to aim higher
Beyond the results, it is primarily the potential of the car that excites Lawson. The driver believes the team has a sufficiently competitive base to regularly settle into the top 10.
“Yes, clearly,” he replies when asked about the prospects for evolution, before recalling: “In China, we were unlucky with the safety car, but we still finished in the points.”.
Even when pure performance was not optimal, Racing Bulls managed to maximize its opportunities, an encouraging sign for the rest of the season.
Maximizing every opportunity
Lawson emphasizes the team’s current ability to fully exploit its package.
“We weren’t particularly fast in the race there, but we managed to get the most out of the car,” he explains.
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He also highlights the performances observed during certain weekends, notably in Australia: “When we have the pace like in Melbourne, we find ourselves in a very good position,” he points out.
This consistency in performance exploitation could make the difference against other midfield teams. For the New Zealand driver, the essential point is this: Racing Bulls is now capable of converting its potential into concrete results.
“For now, we are literally extracting everything we can from the car and scoring points,” he confides.
A finding that fuels his enthusiasm: “It’s very positive and frankly exciting,” he adds.
Goal: Settle into the top 10
With a healthy base and solid execution, Racing Bulls can legitimately aim for a regular presence in the points this season. The next meeting in Miami will be a first test to confirm this dynamic and measure the progress made during the break.
For Liam Lawson, one thing is certain: if the team continues on this path, it could well become one of the surprises of the year.
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