Liam Lawson denied that exacting “revenge” on Max Verstappen is in his mind after out-qualifying the reigning World Champion for Formula 1‘s Austrian Grand Prix.
The Kiwi put up a superb showing on Saturday at the Red Bull Ring, finishing the day in sixth place to start Sunday’s race one place ahead of Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Lawson, who was ousted by the Milton Keynes-based squad two races into 2025, has struggled to match team-mate Isack Hadjar’s pace since returning to Racing Bulls.
But he put it all together in Spielberg to cement a starting place that sees him share the third row with George Russell and behind his idol Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari.
Lawson was quick to pour scorn on any suggestion that he was out to seek retribution, making a grounded assumption that he would not be in a position to race the Dutchman.
“It’s not revenge, I haven’t really raced him at all, but it is a good position,” Lawson told media including Motorsport Week.
“We maximised today, but I don’t expect to be racing him tomorrow and some of the guys around us, but some of the guys behind, we will try that.”
Lawson ‘proud’ of Racing Bulls
Lawson also talked of his pride in the Racing Bulls crew that has been able to produce another sensational result, the Faenza-based outfit showing its credentials in the midfield fight again.
He said he was “more proud of the team for a lot of hard work recently, especially around my side to make me more comfortable around the car and help things suit me, and I think today reflected that.
“It is such small things at the moment and the team has been doing a good job to keep chasing it, we can’t afford to miss anything because everyone is making incremental gains.
“To make a step from FP3 and put everything together and do it consistently through the session was a good feeling, and I am just stoked for the team.
“It has been quite a few races of strong pace and practice potential, and then it hasn’t come together in qualifying.”
READ MORE – Why Red Bull being ‘miles off’ made Max Verstappen’s disrupted Austria F1 qualifying less ‘painful’
