Liam Lawson Reflects on Strong Red Bull Return After Spanish Grand Prix Points Finish
Liam Lawson believes “overall it’s been a strong three weekends” with Red Bull since replacing the injured Isack Hadjar midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season. The New Zealander made his third start for the senior team at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, securing his best result since swapping his Racing Bulls machinery by finishing sixth.
Overtaking Challenge Defines Madrid Debut
Lawson was one of the few drivers to execute an overtake on the Madring street circuit, before a late pit stop secured his second points finish with Red Bull—following a seventh-place result in the Netherlands. Speaking to F1 TV about the challenges of Formula 1’s newest venue, Lawson said:
“Hard to overtake is really the biggest thing. We started on the hard [tyre] as well and with the Virtual Safety Car, it didn’t really help us,”
He elaborated on a key moment during the race:
“Made quite a risky pass on Franco [Colapinto] earlier on and felt like it was going to be really important for our race but then the VSC came out and they boxed anyway, so it didn’t really make a difference.
Was quite fun to do but this track is very difficult to pull it off [an overtake]. I didn’t nearly make the corner and you do track limits you have to give the place back. Tough race.”
Contrast with Early Season Struggles
Lawson’s current performances with Red Bull stand in stark contrast to the start of the 2025 season, where he competed in just two races before being demoted back to Racing Bulls. Prior to his temporary move back to the senior team, Lawson had scored points in eight out of 11 races this season—form that earned him another call-up.
Although Hadjar was present in the Madrid paddock over the weekend, the Frenchman’s return from a wrist injury sustained over the summer break remains unknown, with Baku the next race in two weeks.
Lawson Proud of Maximising Opportunities
When asked if he was proud of his performances with Red Bull so far, Lawson responded:
“I think so,”
He expanded on his approach:
“I’ve just tried to maximise each weekend. Honestly, a lot of things coming into it were just driver specific that I knew were going to be challenging about this car, and just really tried to prepare as much as I could but it’s been a very busy few weeks to be honest.
Probably this coming week will be busy as well to be honest, I’ll probably be doing prep for both cars again. It’s just been a busy time trying to put everything together, but it’s been good.
I would have loved to have scored in Monza as well, but I think overall it’s been a strong three weekends.”
