Red Bull Racing Team Principal Laurent Mekies has commended Liam Lawson’s recent performance, highlighting the driver’s calm approach and consistent development. Lawson has been deputising for the injured Isack Hadjar across the last three Grand Prix weekends.
Lawson’s temporary promotion to Red Bull Racing has yielded significant results. He secured a seventh-place finish at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort and followed this with a sixth-place finish at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
The New Zealander also competed in the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, where he finished 14th after sustaining front wing damage following contact with Nico Hülkenberg. Mekies indicated that Lawson would have likely scored points without this incident.
‘I think he’s done a very good job,’ Mekies stated. ‘We all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and I think that he has done that to the best of what could have been our expectations.’
This recent stint with Red Bull Racing marks a contrast to Lawson’s brief two-race appearance for the team at the start of the 2025 season. During that period, replacing Sergio Pérez, he struggled to score points in Australia and China before being reassigned to Racing Bulls.
Mekies further elaborated on Lawson’s progression, noting his composed and focused demeanour in the car. He praised Lawson’s ability to simplify his interactions with the team and his approach to performance, concentrating on fundamental aspects.
Lawson was called up to Red Bull Racing after Isack Hadjar fractured his wrist during a training accident over the summer break. Hadjar has since missed the Dutch, Italian, and Spanish Grands Prix.
Red Bull Racing is prioritising Hadjar’s full recovery and is not rushing his return. The team plans to evaluate his condition further through simulator sessions ahead of the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for September 26.
Prior to his call-up to Red Bull Racing, Lawson was a contracted driver for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls for the 2026 season. He had already scored points for VCARB earlier this year, securing a seventh-place finish in China and a ninth-place finish in Japan.
During Lawson’s current tenure at Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda has been filling his seat at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls for the Dutch, Italian, and Spanish Grand Prix weekends.
