Liam Lawson has been praised by Red Bull for his contribution to the team during his unexpected tenure at the team in recent races. substituting for the injured Isack Hadjar.
Lawson has fulfilled the role of a super sub driver in the last few rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season, getting an unexpected second stint at Red Bull following Hadjar’s wrist injury.
The transformation in Lawson compared to his disastrous early 2025 tenure is stark. the New Zealander having now competed in more races as a substitute than as a full-time Red Bull driver.
He has two point scoring finishes to his name in the three he has participated in, including a notable sixth place in Madrid, his best result of the season.
Team Principal and CEO Laurent Mekies praised Lawson’s efforts.
“I think he’s done a very good job,” he said to media in Madrid, including Motorsport Week.
“I think 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.
“He has taken some very important points with the P6. He did the same in Zandvoort, and in Monza he would have done something similar without the contact with Nico [Hulkenberg] and the front wing damage. I think he did a very good job.
“Very different pictures compared to the first races of 2025 when he was in the team.
“We are thankful and happy with that.”
Red Bull praise Liam Lawson “growth”
Mekies detailed the improvement areas Lawson has demonstrated, including a simplified approach to race weekends.
“I think he has continued to grow as a driver, and he’s very focused,” Mekies added.
“He’s certainly making, I don’t know if he makes an effort or not, but he certainly managed to keep things simple in the way he tracks with the team, and in the way he tackles his own performance and the car performance, so he’s focused on the essentials.
“He tries to get the basics right, and it’s working for him, of course.
“With more time in the car, you can then get to another degree of finesse, maybe. But yeah, I think that approach has been very, very, very strong.”
Lawson’s results come at a time where his future is up in the air, as F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov is in the frame to join the team, but his results in his second Red Bull life could be his saviour by season’s end.
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