Liam Lawson has once again proven himself as a top-tier talent in the paddock. Called up at short notice to replace the injured Isack Hadjar at the Dutch Grand Prix, the New Zealander delivered an impressive performance and earned praise from Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies.
Lawson, who usually races for Racing Bulls, had to adapt quickly to the Red Bull Racing machine at the demanding Zandvoort circuit. Despite limited time in the RB22, he showed pace that threatened teammate Max Verstappen.
In the Sprint, Lawson started and finished 11th. But his performance improved dramatically in qualifying, where he took eighth place, just 0.115s behind Verstappen in seventh. It was a clear sign that Lawson could compete at the highest level.
In the main race, Red Bull's fortunes took a hit when Verstappen crashed out on the first lap. All hopes rested on Lawson, and the 23-year-old delivered. He finished seventh, the best possible result for an RB22 that was firmly the fourth-fastest car behind McLaren, Mercedes, and Ferrari.
The result also strengthened Lawson's position in the drivers' standings. He now sits ninth, behind only the six drivers from the top teams, Verstappen, and Hadjar. This cements his status as the best non-top-team driver.
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies was full of praise. "Liam has done a good job stepping into the car," he said. "It's never easy to step into a different team and different car for a race like that, and he's done a good job. He was only one-tenth away from Max in qualifying, and in the race he took the points that were available to him pace-wise with the seventh place."
With this performance, questions about Lawson's future at Red Bull are growing louder. Will he get a permanent opportunity? What is clear is that he has proven his worth.
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