Back at Red Bull in Zandvoort, Liam Lawson secured an encouraging eighth place in qualifying, just 0.115 seconds behind Max Verstappen. A performance that feels like revenge after his dismissal in 2025.
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Liam Lawson did not have to wait long to show a completely different face at Red Bull. Called to replace Isack Hadjar, who was injured in the wrist, the New Zealander secured the eighth position on the grid for the Dutch Grand Prix.
Above all, Lawson was only 0.115 seconds behind Max Verstappen, seventh. A particularly small gap considering the four-time world champion has been driving the RB22 since the start of the season and his teammate only had one free practice session to adapt to it.
This performance strongly contrasts with his first stint at Red Bull. Promoted at the start of the 2025 season, Lawson was demoted to Racing Bulls after only two particularly difficult Grands Prix.
Lawson believes he has always known his true level
Since his return to Racing Bulls, Lawson has gradually rebuilt his season and reputation. Before the summer break, he was the highest-ranked driver in the championship outside the top four teams.
With notably two sixth places in Monaco and Silverstone and eight points finishes in the first eleven races, Lawson established himself as a regular top 10 contender.
His temporary return to Red Bull now allows him to demonstrate that he is capable of being competitive behind the wheel of the main team’s car.
“For me, it’s something I’ve always known internally, regarding the level at which I am capable of performing” explains Lawson.
“With different circumstances and things happening differently… Maybe now, for you and for the whole world, you can also see it.”
A statement that takes on a special meaning after the many criticisms that accompanied his demotion in 2025.
Lawson reflects on his 2025 failure
The New Zealander nevertheless refuses to present this return as revenge. He mainly recalls that the circumstances of his first stint at Red Bull were very different.
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Lawson notably had to discover the car in a particularly delicate context, with only two weekends to convince.
“Last year, the gaps were extremely small. The cars were in the last year of their regulations, so they were fully developed and there was practically nothing left to improve. At the start of the year, our car was overall very difficult to drive.”
The schedule did not make his adaptation any easier. After Melbourne, Lawson had to race the Chinese Grand Prix on a circuit he did not know, with only one practice session due to the Sprint format.
“I had never been to China and it was a Sprint weekend. A lot of things happened during those weekends and did not help us. Then, it was over.”
Lawson remains convinced that with more time, he would have eventually adapted.
“With more time, I obviously think I would have adapted to the car and gotten used to it.”
An experience that changes everything at Red Bull
One year later, Lawson believes he is a much better equipped driver. His experience gained at Racing Bulls allows him notably to approach this return to Red Bull with more confidence.
“Coming into this weekend, I have many more Formula 1 races behind me. It’s simply having more experience. I’ve been here before and maybe also have more confidence in myself as a driver.”
Despite the symbolic significance of his performance, Lawson assures he does not think about what this return could mean for his future.
“I came into this weekend without really thinking about my future or the car I am currently driving. It was simply something different. Obviously, in a way, it’s nice to drive again for this team.”
His immediate goal will now be to turn this eighth place on the grid into points. After finishing 11th in the Sprint, Lawson will have another chance on Sunday to confirm that the driver who returned to Red Bull in 2026 is no longer quite the same as the one who left the team after only two races in 2025.
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