Red Bull has made a surprising call to keep Liam Lawson in the race seat for this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. Many expected Isack Hadjar to make his return after recovering from a wrist injury, but the team has decided otherwise.
Lawson, who was dropped from the main team after two races last season, was called up as a replacement for Hadjar at Zandvoort. The Kiwi impressed with a seventh-place finish, and was retained for Monza, with Yuki Tsunoda moving to Racing Bulls as a reserve driver.
The decision to keep Lawson in Madrid comes as the new Madring circuit remains an unknown quantity. Lawson's experience with the team over the past two rounds is deemed more valuable than risking a driver just back from injury.
"After racing for the team in Zandvoort and Monza, Liam will continue to drive alongside Max at this week's Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid," Red Bull said in a statement. "The decision has been taken as Isack's recovery continues to progress positively. While he is not yet ready to return to the cockpit, he will be in Madrid supporting the team."
Red Bull is looking to build momentum after Max Verstappen finished third at Monza, erasing the memory of his Zandvoort crash. With Lawson growing more comfortable in the car, the team hopes for a stronger performance.
Interestingly, Racing Bulls has admitted the arrangement is 'not ideal,' but Red Bull is clearly prioritizing the main team's interests in a tight championship battle. We'll see what Lawson can do in Madrid.
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