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Liam Lawson Thrives at Racing Bulls After Red Bull Exit

Liam Lawson has expressed his satisfaction with his return to Racing Bulls at Suzuka, embracing the change after his recent demotion from Red Bull. He appears to have quickly adapted to the team’s significantly different Formula 1 car.

Lawson’s time with Red Bull was short-lived, following two challenging race weekends that led to the team’s decision to replace him with Yuki Tsunoda, a former Racing Bulls teammate. While Lawson felt that he needed additional time to acclimate to the demanding RB21, he found himself adapting promptly to the VCARB 02, achieving a commendable fifth place in a somewhat fragmented FP2 session at Suzuka, finishing just shy of his new teammate Isack Hadjar.

“It felt good. It is definitely a different feeling to drive,” Lawson remarked about his initial experience in the new car. “I think the window that the guys have at the moment is very, very good. And the car has been fast so far this season, so hopefully we can replicate that tomorrow as well.”

Lawson also highlighted the excitement of racing on Suzuka’s revamped track, particularly the newly resurfaced section, which has enhanced speed. “With the resurfacing, sector one is even faster now, so it just feels like it’s tearing your head off, which is quite exciting,” he noted.

At Racing Bulls, Lawson has encountered a supportive atmosphere to help him rebuild his confidence. Team principal Laurent Mekies emphasized his commitment to aiding the 23-year-old New Zealander in regaining his form. “He knows he has an important role to play with us in the battle we have in the midfield,” Mekies stated. “He knows he has a point to prove out there, so we are all very conscious that his talent is there and it’s about finding the right conditions to extract it back out of him.”

The support from the Anglo-Italian team has been instrumental for Lawson during this transition. “Yeah, it’s been nice. Everybody’s been very, very positive, even from last week,” he said. Lawson conveyed appreciation for Mekies’ direct outreach and positive reinforcement, along with visiting the factory and the paddock. “I’ve spent a lot of time with this team; they’re a great bunch of people. It is nice to feel that welcome back again, so hopefully we can go and have some good races together,” he added.

Photos from Japanese GP – Practice

In this article:

Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

Liam Lawson

Racing Bulls

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