Liam Lawson expressed his wish for the Dutch Grand Prix to remain on the Formula 1 calendar beyond 2026. The Racing Bulls driver made his Formula 1 debut at the Zandvoort circuit in 2023, stepping in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo.
“Is next year the last one? I thought this year was already the last time,” Lawson responded somewhat surprised during a media session in the Zandvoort paddock on Thursday. “I’m disappointed that it’s going away. It’s such a circuit that we don’t often drive on. And although technically it’s a new circuit, it feels a bit like an old-school track because of the layout and because the walls are so close to the track. So it’s cool to drive here. And I hope I can enjoy it more this weekend than last time.”
‘Fear and Chaos’
Lawson made his unexpected Formula 1 debut at Zandvoort in 2023, replacing the injured Daniel Ricciardo. However, that weekend was overshadowed by rain, red flags, and immense pressure. “My memories of that weekend are largely filled with fear and chaos. It was mainly about survival and learning. It wasn’t really fun.”
Yet, the New Zealander also harbors warm feelings for Zandvoort. At the age of fifteen, he drove his first international test in Formula 4 at Van Amersfoort Racing. “This is the circuit where my career actually started. If I were to make the decisions, I would definitely extend Zandvoort. But there are also many circuits that I would want to rotate or replace.”
