Liam Lawson, the determined driver from New Zealand, finds himself at a pivotal point in his racing career. After his initial meteoric rise to the Red Bull senior team, Lawson faces a challenge—a return to the Racing Bulls fold following a tough stint that saw his confidence shaken.
Lawson’s journey hasn’t been smooth. He joined Racing Bulls with high hopes but has only managed to secure four points this season. The struggle was evident during the Spanish Grand Prix where he described his performance as ‘wasted.’ Despite a fast car, qualifying issues have repeatedly pushed him into battles he believes he shouldn’t have been fighting.
In Spain, Lawson started 13th on the grid and managed to inch up to 11th, helped partly by Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s retirement. The race threw him another curveball with a Safety Car situation that didn’t play in his favor. ‘We missed the Safety Car line by half a second,’ he lamented. The incident exemplified the narrow margins that have so far not fallen his way.
Lawson’s reflections on the race reveal a broader issue with qualifying performance. He frequently finds himself needing to push through the field, which costs crucial time. This dynamic was evident in his altercations with Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman. ‘I was trying to overtake how it’s written in the rule book,’ Lawson commented, adding that racing fiercely is part of the job but not without its disadvantages in terms of race position.
Despite these setbacks, Lawson remains optimistic about the car’s potential. He notes that the race pace was impressive, even if traffic and tire management complicated his races. He’s also cautiously hopeful about the new regulations and how they might play to Racing Bulls’ strengths as the F1 season progresses.
Looking forward, Lawson prepares for the Canadian Grand Prix with cautious optimism, even though he has yet to race at this venue. His reflections and adjustments hint at a learning curve, but also a readiness to tackle the challenges head-on.
Liam Lawson’s journey with Racing Bulls is a testament to the ups and downs of a racing career. Despite the bumpy road, his determination remains firm. As he heads to Canada, Lawson hopes to turn lessons from past races into future victories.
