Liam Lawson has exorcised his early season demons, bursting into the F1 spotlight with Racing Bulls after a year of pain at Red Bull. The 22-year-old New Zealander, once plagued by poor starts and collapses, now finds himself among the elite of the drivers’ standings – a turnaround that could have been predicted only 12 months ago.
Lawson’s transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Of the first seven races of the 2026 Formula 1 season, he scored points in five, rocketing himself into the top ten and making it clear that last year’s struggles are firmly in the rearview mirror. Lawson is no longer fighting for relevance, he has become a driver to watch, as Racing Bulls, energized by sweeping regulation changes, has delivered a car capable of fighting at the business end of the grid.
A stark contrast to his 2025 campaign. At the time, Lawson was struggling with frustration and self-doubt after a difficult stint with the Red Bull senior team. Two disappointing races with the Milton Keynes charioteer led to his return to Racing Bulls, a move that would have crushed a lesser competitor. Instead, Lawson regrouped, rebuilt, and has emerged as one of the most improved drivers on the grid. The team’s revival under the new technical regulations has given them the platform to shine, and they have wasted no time in delivering on their promise.
Regulation changes always threaten to shake up the established order, and 2026 has been no exception. Racing Bulls, often overshadowed by their parent team, took advantage of this opportunity by attacking aggressively from the first race. Technological change has widened the field, and Lawson’s adaptability and tireless work ethic have proven decisive. “The cars are very interesting this year,” Lawson told Assemble Media. “We’re all obviously still getting used to them, learning. The growth this year is obviously massive. We’re all looking for some big things most weekends, so we’re all chasing that.”
It’s not just the machinery that’s new. Lawson himself admits that he has changed fundamentally as a competitor. Reflecting on his journey, he was candid about the process of self-improvement. “On a personal level – probably, I think we’re always evolving and learning,” he explained. “So, the more experience I have, the better I’ll get. And I think compared to last year, I’d say I’m in a better place. There’s been a little more consistency this year and that’s helping.”
The implications are seismic. With the championship still in its infancy, Racing Bulls and Lawson have established themselves as genuine threats, not just plucky underdogs. The consistency and maturity Lawson has now displayed shows he is ready for big things – and with the team on the rise, the sky is the limit. Rivals are taking notice, and the pressure is mounting – not just on Lawson, but on the established order that thought they had the pecking order figured out.
As Paddock leaves Barcelona and approaches a crucial period in the calendar, the question is no longer whether Lawson has it – the question is whether he can maintain this explosive form and mount a serious challenge for even bigger prizes. The hunger is clear, the tools are in place, and a new star is rising in Formula 1. The grid has been warned: Liam Lawson is no longer an apprentice – he’s here to rewrite the script.
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