Lawson gives his take on first day back in a Red Bull
Liam Lawson returned to Red Bull for the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint after replacing an injured Isack Hadjar, finishing P11 in qualifying despite strong early pace and outpacing Max Verstappen in SQ1.
Liam Lawson made his first appearance back at Red Bull during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, stepping in for an injured Isack Hadjar. The New Zealander qualified in P11 for Saturday’s Sprint, marking his return to the team after a two-race stint earlier in 2025. His replacement at Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda, took his seat for the weekend.
Lawson described his first day back in the Red Bull as “interesting,” noting frustration after an SQ2 exit in Sprint Qualifying despite showing strong potential. He had outperformed Max Verstappen in SQ1 but failed to progress further, leaving him P11 on the grid. Lawson acknowledged the challenge of adapting quickly to the new car.
When asked about his qualifying performance, Lawson admitted disappointment at not reaching SQ3 but emphasized the need to analyze the session. He highlighted that the team had shown potential to compete at the front, calling the outcome “frustrating.” Lawson also expressed confidence in his ability to settle into the car despite the limited preparation time.
Lawson lined up between his Racing Bulls teammates on the grid, with Arvid Lindblad ahead in P10 and Tsunoda behind in P12. He suggested the day’s performance indicated possible improvements for the rest of the weekend, though the team still needed to address issues ahead of qualifying.