Behind on Friday in Monza, Red Bull could rely on a slipstreaming game between its drivers in qualifying. Liam Lawson confirms that a plan is under study.
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Red Bull did not really reassure during the first day of the Italian Grand Prix. While Liam Lawson caused a small surprise by finishing fourth in FP1, the hierarchy was clearly less favorable during the second session.
The New Zealander only set the 12th time in FP2, while Max Verstappen had to settle for ninth place. Racing Bulls and Haas even placed cars ahead of the two Red Bulls, confirming the current difficulties of the Milton Keynes team in getting closer to the leading teams.
But Lawson’s times do not tell the whole story of his day.
Red Bull prioritized race preparation
Still called to replace Isack Hadjar, not sufficiently recovered from his wrist injury, Lawson devoted much of FP2 to long runs rather than seeking performance over one lap.
A choice directly linked to the difficulties encountered by the New Zealand driver during the previous Grand Prix in Zandvoort. Lawson had shown himself relatively competitive in qualifying, before suffering more with his RB22 on long runs.
Red Bull therefore adapted its program in Monza to allow him to accumulate more data in race configuration.
“It was okay. I would say we had a productive day,” Lawson estimates. “We devoted most of FP2 to long runs. We did a short run at the start and the feeling was okay, then we did two long runs with the soft and hard tires.”
For Lawson, this work should above all allow him to better understand the behavior of the Red Bull over time.
“It’s a good learning for me. In Zandvoort, we suffered more in the race than in qualifying, or rather I suffered more in the race. So I will try to learn everything I can from this day.”
Slipstreaming, a major issue in Monza
The first tests also confirmed the considerable importance of slipstreaming on the Italian circuit. This phenomenon is traditionally decisive in Monza due to the long straights, but it seems even more pronounced with the characteristics of the 2026 cars.
Positioning behind another car can greatly reduce aerodynamic drag and improve top speed. Conversely, doing a lap without slipstreaming can represent a significant handicap against competitors.
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This situation should make traffic management particularly tricky in qualifying. Drivers will have to find the right compromise between benefiting from a car ahead of them and keeping enough space not to be disturbed in braking zones.
For Red Bull, this could also open the door to an organized collaboration between Verstappen and Lawson.
A plan between Verstappen and Lawson?
Lawson acknowledges that the team is already considering how its two drivers could work together during qualifying.
Asked about the possibility of seeing Red Bull implement a slipstreaming strategy between its two cars, the New Zealander confirms that the subject will be discussed before the session.
“For sure, it’s something we will talk about and we will make a plan,” he says.
It remains to be determined what form this strategy will take. Red Bull could notably try to space its two cars precisely so that one benefits from the slipstream of the other during its flying lap, before possibly swapping roles on the next attempt.
Red Bull is still seeking performance
Such a tactic could prove particularly valuable given the pace shown on Friday. Verstappen only set the ninth time in FP2 and Red Bull still seems to lack performance against Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren.
Lawson’s fourth place in FP1 had hinted at greater potential, but his different program during the second session makes comparisons difficult.
FP3 will provide a clearer picture of the hierarchy before qualifying. Red Bull will also have to determine if the race-focused settings can allow it to remain competitive enough over one lap.
In a weekend where every tenth gained thanks to slipstreaming could make the difference, Red Bull clearly does not want to leave anything to chance. And according to Lawson, Verstappen and he could well receive precise instructions to work together when fighting for their grid positions.
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