Allard Kalff, a prominent Dutch Formula 1 commentator, recently expressed a notable sentiment regarding a Red Bull driver, stating, ‘I truly missed that man.’ This comment appears to refer to Liam Lawson, who recently returned to a more prominent role within the Red Bull family.
Lawson, a Racing Bulls driver, was unexpectedly called upon to race for Red Bull Racing at the Dutch Grand Prix. This temporary promotion followed a wrist injury sustained by Isack Hadjar, another Racing Bulls driver, prior to the Zandvoort event.
During his stand-in appearance, Lawson delivered a solid performance, securing a seventh-place finish in the Red Bull RB22. This result was achieved despite the car being considered the fourth-fastest on the grid that weekend.
The situation surrounding Hadjar’s fitness for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix, scheduled for September 4-6, 2026, remains under evaluation. Red Bull Racing has confirmed that Lawson is being kept on standby.
Should Hadjar not receive medical clearance for Monza, Lawson is prepared to step into the Red Bull RB22 once more alongside Max Verstappen. In such a scenario, Yuki Tsunoda would then return to drive for Racing Bulls.
Kalff’s remark about missing Lawson likely stems from the New Zealander’s previous demotion from Red Bull Racing in 2025 after just two rounds. Lawson had initially been promoted to replace Sergio Pérez.
Separately, Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen is preparing for a unique karting challenge. On September 16, 2026, Verstappen will participate in the ‘Max vs 100’ event at Silverstone.
This event will see Verstappen start from the rear of a 101-kart field, aiming to overtake every competitor. The field will comprise a diverse group, including Red Bull athletes, celebrities, content creators, and invited fans.
The ‘Max vs 100’ race is being held to support the Wings for Life charity, an organisation dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. Verstappen has previously supported this cause.
Verstappen has been undertaking practice sessions in Austria to prepare for the karting event. He noted that karting provides fundamental skills such as starts, defending, and overtaking.
Robert Doornbos, a former Formula 1 driver and current F1 analyst for F1Maximaal, frequently provides commentary on Red Bull Racing and Max Verstappen’s performances.
