Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson feels like a racer again after a brief stint with Red Bull. He has found himself in a warm environment and is driving the VCARB 02 with confidence, something he longed for in the RB21. With a fifth-place finish in the second free practice, the New Zealander immediately made his mark.
Liam Lawson has been a Red Bull driver for less than two weeks, but despite his quick departure, he has enjoyed his return to Racing Bulls at Suzuka. Lawson, who indicated he needed more time to adapt to the RB21, quickly found speed in the VCARB 02. In the second free practice, which was largely stationary, he finished fifth, just half a tenth behind his new teammate Isack Hadjar.
“It felt good. It’s definitely a different feeling to drive,” said a relieved Lawson about his first day in his new car. “I think the window that the guys have right now is very, very good. And the car has been fast so far this season, so hopefully we can show that tomorrow as well.”
After two races in the Red Bull, the curtain fell for the New Zealander, even before he got the chance to drive on a circuit where he had previously raced. “It’s a very cool circuit. With the resurfacing sector, people are now even faster, so it just feels like you’re tearing your head off, which is quite exciting.”
A Warm Environment
The smile on Lawson’s face is visibly back. He is once again enjoying being a driver and has found a warmer environment at Racing Bulls to regain his self-confidence. For team boss Laurent Mekies, it was a priority to help the 23-year-old Lawson find his groove again. “He knows he has an important role to play with us in the battle we have in the midfield,” says Mekies on the first day of the race weekend in Japan. “He knows he has a point to prove, so we are all very aware that his talent is there and it’s about finding the right conditions to bring it out of him again.”
Lawson indicates that he has received the right support to make the transition as smooth as possible. “Laurent called right away and was very, very positive. He said all the things I needed to hear, went to everyone in the factory and of course came to the paddock yesterday,” he says. “Everyone has been very, very positive, even from last week. I’ve spent a lot of time with this team, it’s a great group of people. It’s nice to feel welcome again, so hopefully we can run some good races together.”
Teammate Hadjar Also Enjoys
Isack Hadjar also feels at home at Racing Bulls and has enjoyed the ‘encouraging’ Friday. “This car and the combination with this circuit is definitely the best there is. It’s an impressive circuit to drive a Formula 1 car, something I’ve been looking forward to since the start of the season. Especially Sector 1 is really fast and satisfying.”
The Frenchman finished eighth in the first free practice, and third in the second. “We had a good FP1 and FP2 and overall it was a pleasant day, just like in Australia and China. I felt good in the car and I think we’re on the right track to achieve a good result tomorrow, so we’re going to do our best to qualify well.”
