Liam Lawson has delivered a blunt assessment of the new 2026 Formula 1 cars as concerns over the racing spectacle continue to grow.
Entering 2026 with Racing Bulls once again, Lawson will race with the new Red Bull Ford power unit, which performed well across both Bahrain tests.
But one of the dominant topics in the Middle East continued to be the radical driving style and energy management required to extract performance.
While the Red Bull power unit delivers in terms of energy management, Lawson was initially hesitant to confirm if the cars remain enjoyable to drive.
Asked the question directly, Lawson said ‘erm’ followed by a pause that lasted an eternal seven-seconds, drawing laughter from the gathered media in the hospitality suite.
After the comms team attempted to move proceedings on, he clarified his point.
“It’s a combination”, he said to media, including Motorsport Week.
“Obviously, when you’re in qualifying, you want to drive a car as fast as you can. You don’t have to think about managing energy.”
Liam Lawson claims lap time being wasted
Expanding on his rationale, Liam Lawson confirmed the reduction in grip and downforce left crucial lap time being wasted, while also impacting the enjoyment of driving.
“But at the same time, when you have less grip, you’re sliding around more, and you feel like you’re leaving lap time on the table,” he said.
“Coming from a faster car, naturally, it’s going to feel frustrating, or not as enjoyable, but at the same time, it’s very early in the development stages, so I’m sure as we go down the line, we’ll get faster.”
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