Liam Lawson Reflects on a Promising but Frustrating Return at Red Bull in Zandvoort

Liam Lawson found himself back in the Red Bull cockpit at Zandvoort, filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar. The New Zealander, who previously had a short stint with the team in 2025, was called up at the last minute and managed to secure P11 for Saturday's Sprint after an eventful day.

Despite the limited preparation time, Lawson impressed by outpacing Max Verstappen during SQ1. However, he couldn't maintain that momentum and was eliminated in SQ2. Reflecting on the day, Lawson described it as "interesting" and admitted to feeling a bit frustrated. "Normally, you improve through Quali," he explained, noting that they started well but couldn't match the pace of others in SQ2.

Lawson acknowledged the learning curve he faced but remained optimistic about the weekend's potential. "I feel quite good in the car," he said, despite the setback. He expressed confidence that with some adjustments, the team could capitalize on their potential.

Interestingly, Lawson will line up between his usual Racing Bulls teammates on the grid, with Arvid Lindblad in 10th and Yuki Tsunoda in 12th. This adds a bit of intra-team rivalry to the mix, which should keep things lively.

Overall, while his return was marked by a promising start, Lawson will be keen to iron out the kinks and make the most of the opportunity as the weekend progresses at Zandvoort.