After a tough start to 2025, Liam Lawson finally showed his teeth with Red Bull. In qualifying for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, the New Zealander impressed by taking eighth place, just a tenth behind teammate Max Verstappen.
This was Lawson's first Q3 appearance since returning to the senior team, replacing the injured Isack Hadjar. The result was a sweet response after his brief two-race stint with Red Bull earlier in 2025 ended with a demotion to Racing Bulls.
"Maybe for everybody else to see. As drivers, we have plenty of self-belief. Maybe too much sometimes," Lawson told Sky Sports F1. "But with everything that happened last year, it was tough. Personally, I knew with the right circumstances and more time, I can do it. Nice to put that on paper today."
Lawson admitted the challenge of adapting quickly to the Red Bull, which he said is very different from the Racing Bulls machinery. "It's been a challenging weekend getting used to this car. Very different to drive," he said. "The steering and seating position are the biggest differences. I've struggled physically because of the different position."
In the final Q3 run, the threat of rain forced Red Bull to abandon build laps and go straight into a push lap. "We didn't do build laps because of rain. I had no idea what I'd get at Turn 1," he explained. Lawson also felt he lost time at Turn 10, despite the lap improving. Still, this performance is a strong foundation for the race.
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