Close to Verstappen
This is not a weekend like the others for Liam Lawson. Isack Hadjar’s injury allowed the New Zealander to drive a Red Bull again after two disastrous appearances at the start of 2025, ending with zero points and a double elimination in Q1 that cost #30 an immediate demotion to Racing Bulls to make way for the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda. This time at Zandvoort Lawson did what was required of him, earning access to Q3 and placing his car just a tenth behind that of a somewhat affected Max Verstappen. The two Red Bulls will therefore start side by side tomorrow in the fourth row.
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The ‘forgetful one’
Speaking to journalists after qualifying, Lawson joked about some team radio exchanges between him and the pit wall. When he was called back to the pit lane, the New Zealander was often reminded to stop at the Red Bull pit and not at the Racing Bulls one, which is his usual team. A reminder that is appreciated by Lawson, who admits to being quite forgetful. “On the radio when I have to come in they always say ‘Box, Red Bull box’ because with my memory I’m sure I would forget. So far it has worked, but I’ll need it again tomorrow,” joked the 24-year-old from Hastings.
After all, F1 history is full of funny episodes of drivers, often just transferred from one team to another, who have stopped in the wrong area when it came to coming back into the race for a tire change.
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