Racing Bulls boss says Daniel Ricciardo taught them 'tough lessons' before Liam Lawson joined
Liam Lawson's journey in Formula 1 took an unexpected turn when he lost his Red Bull seat just two races into the 2025 season, prompting a demotion back to the sister team, Racing Bulls. Despite initial concerns, Max Verstappen foresaw Lawson's potential, and his performance at Racing Bulls soon proved him right.
Lawson's career took off at Racing Bulls, scoring points in seven out of the remaining 15 races, including a career-best P5 finish at the Azerbaijan GP. This impressive run showcased his talent, outperforming Yuki Tsunoda, who replaced him at Red Bull, with a 38-30 point advantage.
But was losing his Red Bull seat the best thing that could have happened to Liam Lawson? Max Verstappen believed so, stating, 'I think that when you put Liam in the Racing Bulls car, he will go faster. I really think so. That car is easier to drive than ours.'
The key to Lawson's success at Racing Bulls was the team's improved car, which they made more 'user-friendly' after Daniel Ricciardo's travails. Ricciardo's main issue was inconsistency, and his struggles with the VCARB01 car led to a chassis change, highlighting his discomfort.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane shared insights with The Race, revealing they learned 'tough lessons' from Ricciardo's season. They took a different approach for 2025, making the car more drivable and user-friendly, which benefited Lawson's still-inexperienced skills.
This new philosophy also benefited Isack Hadjar, who impressed as a rookie, and he will step up to Red Bull for 2026. However, Lawson's future remains uncertain, as he faces a challenge from Arvid Lindblad, who could potentially end his F1 career if he prevails in the teammate head-to-head.
Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer emphasizes that Lawson must work on his one-lap pace to improve for 2026. With Lindblad's potential to outperform him, Lawson's stability is crucial to his F1 career.
