Liam Lawson rejects 'Max Verstappen revenge' after stunning qualifying

Liam Lawson has rejected the idea that he is 'out for revenge' against Max Verstappen after he out-qualified his former Red Bull team-mate for the first time in 2025.

Lawson is the highest-placed Red Bull-affiliated driver on the grid at the Red Bull Ring, after out-qualifying Verstappen for Racing Bulls, something he did not achieve during his two grands prix as the Dutchman's team-mate earlier this year.

Lawson suffered an average qualifying deficit of 1.431s to Verstappen in Australia and China, including the Sprint, but for the first time this season, will start ahead of the world champion, as he also out-qualified team-mate Isack Hadjar for the first time since Saudi Arabia. 

Reflecting, Lawson was full of praise for the hard-work from his team, and rejected the idea that he was out for revenge against Verstappen, who he does not consider will be in his race.

"It's not revenge, I haven't really raced him at all, but it is a good position," Lawson told media, including RacingNews365. 

"We maximised today, but I don't expect to be racing him tomorrow and some of the guys around us, but some of the guys behind, we will try that.

"It doesn't feel bad, but it is a cool feeling, and I'm more proud of the team for a lot of hard work recently, especially around my side to make me more comfortable around the car and help things suit me, and I think today reflected that.

"It is such small things at the moment and the team has been doing a good job to keep chasing it, we can't afford to miss anything because everyone is making incremental gains.

"To make a step from FP3 and put everything together and do it consistently through the session was a good feeling, and I am just stoked for the team. 

"It has been quite a few races of strong pace and practice potential, and then it hasn't come together in qualifying."