Liam Lawson heralded upon much-desired Racing Bulls return

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has praised Liam Lawson after the New Zealander returned to the team.

Lawson was back in the VCARB 03 for the first time since a three-round spell deputising for the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, and immediately went seventh-quickest in Free Practice 1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The New Zealander, however, dropped to 12th in FP2.

Permane said the 24-year-old had been keen to return to what he described as his own car and believes he has resumed where he left off.

"Very much so," the Racing Bulls boss told Sky Sports F1 when it was put to him how well Lawson performed at Red Bull.

"He enjoyed his time there. He was very much wanting to get back in his car, as he called it: 'I want to be back in my car.' And he's started where he left off, basically; it looks like."

Lawson has scored 45 points across 11 Racing Bulls starts this season, including a career-best fifth in Monaco, helping the team sit fifth in the constructors' standings.

His temporary Red Bull spell, during which he collected 14 points and qualified within a tenth of Max Verstappen at Zandvoort, further strengthened his standing.

A 'very credible job' alongside Verstappen at Red Bull

Hadjar fractured his wrist in a training incident during the summer break, ruling him out of the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix.

Lawson was selected to step up and recorded seventh at Zandvoort, sixth in Madrid and P14 at Monza, where his race was compromised by contact with Nico Hulkenberg and a grid penalty.

It marked a contrast to his difficult two-race Red Bull stint at the start of 2025, when he failed to score before being sent back to the junior team.

"I'm super happy for him," Permane added. "Of course, he did a very credible job there. I think we saw in that very first session in Zandvoort, that first qualifying session, he was about a tenth off Max, so that will have boosted his confidence.

"He's certainly come back here [to Racing Bulls] with his head held high and ready to go. But I think it's good for both of them [and Arvid Lindblad].

"They work very, very well together, and certainly we can see that Arvid will be quicker in some corners, Liam will be quicker in others, and throughout the weekend they lift each other up."

Permane also highlighted the progress Lawson has made since returning to Racing Bulls ahead of the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.

After the setback of his early Red Bull demotion, Lawson rebuilt his form, finishing P14 in last year's championship with 38 points, and — in 2026 — Permane believes that development has continued.

"This year, he's worked very hard; we've worked very hard together, and there's no doubt he's much more focused," he said of Lawson since he returned to the team for the first time ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix last season.

"He's driving better. He's better on track, off track. I think in all areas he's better, and that's down to his hard work."