Whether you attribute it to fate or simple irony, the very track where Liam Lawson made his Formula 1 debut filling in for Daniel Ricciardo in 2023 sees the Kiwi driver once more stepping in for an injured Red Bull stablemate at Zandvoort due to a hand issue.
That initial five-race appearance with AlphaTauri in 2023 served as a springboard for Lawson’s eventual full-time promotion, coming after the Red Bull hierarchy parted ways with Ricciardo during the second part of the 2024 season.
This progression resulted in a step up to the main Red Bull squad for 2025 ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, yet following only two races without securing a point, the Kiwi was abruptly demoted back to the sister team as Tsunoda took his place.
Left in a vulnerable position with an unforgiving car and insufficient track time to adapt, Lawson might easily have lost motivation or damaged key relationships. Instead, the 24-year-old has focused on a quiet and methodical recovery, developing into a highly versatile competitor at Racing Bulls while guiding the Anglo-Italian outfit to a solid sixth in the constructors’ championship.
“In all honesty, I believe that given more time, I would have figured things out,” Lawson remarked on his brief tenure with Red Bull Racing at the conclusion of last year. “Those two events went by so quickly I barely recall them now. However, the experiences I’ve had throughout this season have made me much more resilient.”
In the second Racing Bulls cockpit, Isack Hadjar maintained his advantage by contesting the entire campaign, proving to be the quicker of the pair on single-lap pace on average—though the gap was shrinking constantly—making the Frenchman’s selection for the main team in 2026 a natural choice.
In 2023, Liam Lawson took part in five Grands Prix driving for AlphaTauri
Photo by: Jake Grant / Motorsport Images
Simultaneously, Lawson demonstrated the necessary pace, reliability, and grit to secure another year on the grid, where he is currently locked in a tight internal duel with newcomer Arvid Lindblad. He currently holds an 8-6 qualifying advantage over Lindblad, with both drivers frequently competing for point-scoring positions.
“It was clear he had changed, and while it might sound overly dramatic to say we rebuilt him, we simply offered our full support and assisted him in every way possible,” team principal Alan Permane noted on F1’s Beyond the Grid podcast.
“Our role was to guide him, but he was the one who turned things around. His dedication in the simulator was immense, alongside his efforts both on and off the circuit, and that work ultimately paid off with some truly outstanding drives.
“He possesses an intense focus that translates directly into his performance behind the wheel. He has developed a much deeper understanding of the machinery, collaborates more effectively with his engineering crew, clearly identifies what setup he needs, and adapts his driving to extract maximum performance.”
Although the management structure at Red Bull has shifted since that difficult period—with team boss Christian Horner and junior program head Helmut Marko no longer in charge—Lawson is being handed an opportunity to re-establish himself with the senior squad in a temporary capacity.
Knowing that he will head back to Racing Bulls once Hadjar recovers from his wrist injury ought to alleviate some of the immediate stress. Nevertheless, within a system designed to funnel talent into the primary team—especially with junior prospect Nikola Tsolov turning heads in Formula 2 and seemingly on track for a future Racing Bulls seat—this run offers Lawson a perfect stage to boost his reputation and secure his long-term prospects.
During his initial run with Red Bull, Liam Lawson participated in only two races
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Should Hadjar’s rehabilitation proceed smoothly, this second spell at Red Bull for Lawson could turn out to be even more brief than his previous one.
Yet, unpredictable situations are common in Formula 1, as evidenced by how the Kiwi received this very chance. Under the best circumstances, this could act as another crucial stepping stone for his career.
In the worst-case scenario, it serves as a well-deserved recognition of his determination, allowing him to find closure on a highly formative period of his professional life.
