Lawson shares reaction to Red Bull opportunity
Liam Lawson will replace the injured Isack Hadjar at the Dutch Grand Prix, marking his first Red Bull appearance since 2025. The move follows a direct swap with Yuki Tsunoda, who will take Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls.
Liam Lawson has described his return to Red Bull for the Dutch Grand Prix as a “challenging” yet “exciting” opportunity after Isack Hadjar withdrew due to a wrist injury. The New Zealander will step up from Racing Bulls to replace Hadjar at Zandvoort, with Yuki Tsunoda moving in the opposite direction. Lawson acknowledged the unexpected nature of the situation but emphasized his focus on performing in a different car during the Sprint weekend.
The 24-year-old driver, who has raced more frequently since his last Red Bull stint in 2025, expressed increased confidence in Formula 1 but warned of a steep learning curve. He highlighted the Sprint format’s compressed schedule, noting the need to quickly adapt to the Red Bull car during practice and qualifying. Lawson also mentioned completing simulator work ahead of the event to accelerate the process.
Lawson revealed he received the call from Red Bull’s Alan Permane while still at the airport, immediately shifting his preparation from planned Red Bull duties to the Dutch Grand Prix. He described the transition as abrupt but acknowledged the differences between the Racing Bulls and Red Bull cars. Despite the challenges, Lawson stressed the importance of enjoying the weekend, particularly as Zandvoort will host its final race in this configuration.
When asked about the biggest hurdle, Lawson cited the new car as the primary challenge, compounded by the Sprint weekend’s condensed timeline. He set a target of maximizing learning through practice, Sprint Qualifying, and the Sprint race itself to be ready for Saturday’s qualifying. Lawson downplayed comparisons to his 2025 demotion, calling the current circumstances distinct and focusing instead on delivering a strong performance.