Liam Lawson’s unexpected return to Red Bull Racing at the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix showcased resilience and adaptability, reigniting memories of his brief but turbulent stint with the team in 2025. Called up last minute to replace the injured Isack Hadjar, the New Zealander delivered a solid performance on the demanding Zandvoort circuit, underlining his readiness despite the abrupt nature of the opportunity.
Lawson’s weekend began modestly, lagging 0.365 seconds behind Max Verstappen in Sprint Qualifying and missing out on the final segment, SQ3. However, he swiftly found his rhythm, closing the gap to just 0.115 seconds behind Verstappen by the time official qualifying concluded, securing eighth on the grid. While Verstappen’s home race ended prematurely with a crash on Lap 2, Lawson capitalized on the circumstances to finish seventh and claim valuable points for Red Bull Racing.
Reflecting on his experiences with Red Bull’s machinery, Lawson drew a clear distinction between the 2025 RB21 and the current RB22 car. “Honestly, with how last year was, with those two weekends, the way those weekends played out, being two tracks I’d never done, I honestly still don’t think I even have an opinion on what that car was to drive,” Lawson admitted. “I feel like I got more comfortable in this [the RB22] in a weekend, so yeah, it’s very hard to compare.”
Further emphasizing the challenge of switching machines mid-season, Lawson compared the RB22 with his regular Racing Bulls car, the VCARB03. He highlighted the stark aerodynamic differences and the personal nature of driver comfort adjustments, noting, “There’s some things that, when you switch a car for a weekend, you can’t just automatically change those things. So, there’s stuff in this car that aren’t the same as mine, in terms of just driver comfort, that I’ve had to get my head around. Without being too specific, but that’s stuff that has probably been the most challenging.”
As Red Bull Racing assesses their driver lineup ahead of the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the team has yet to confirm whether Hadjar will be fit to return or if Lawson will continue his substitute role. Lawson’s performance in the Netherlands not only demonstrated his capability to step into a high-pressure seat with minimal preparation but also reignited discussions on his future prospects within the top tier of Formula 1.