Racing Bulls shake things up at Suzuka—Hadjar hunts for points while Lawson returns with a point to prove in Japan.
There’s a fresh twist to the Racing Bulls lineup this weekend at Suzuka, following Red Bull’s shake-up of its driver roster. But for French driver Isack Hadjar, the mission remains the same: keep the momentum going and deliver another strong performance at one of F1’s most iconic circuits.
“I’m super excited to be in Japan—it’s probably my favorite stop on the calendar,” Hadjar said. “I’ve driven Suzuka before, though it’s been a while. Still, it’s right up there with Monaco as my favorite track.”
Suzuka Speed, Bulls Back on Attack
Driving a Formula 1 car around Suzuka is a whole new experience, he admitted: “When you take on this track in an F1, it feels insanely fast. We’ve shown great pace in the last two race weekends, so the goal is to keep that going and fight for more points.”
On the other side of the Racing Bulls garage, Liam Lawson is back with the team after a stint with Red Bull earlier this season. The New Zealander is eager to get back in the groove and make the most of his opportunity.
“I can’t wait to race in Japan again. Suzuka is one of my favorite tracks—it’s fast, flowing, and just so much fun in an F1 car,” Lawson said. “This weekend is a huge chance for me. I’m thrilled to be back with Racing Bulls, and as always, I’m going to give it absolutely everything.”
Sporting Director Alan Permane knows the team faces a major test at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.
“Suzuka is a real challenge—for the car, the drivers, and the tyres,” he explained. “It’s got everything: high-speed corners, medium-speed turns, quick direction changes, hard braking zones, and that tight final chicane over the kerbs.”
Tyre Test, Tight Grid, Big Stakes
This weekend, Pirelli is bringing its hardest tyre compounds from the 2025 range, which should suit Suzuka’s high-energy layout. Around half the track surface has also been resurfaced since last year, which could shake up grip levels and tyre performance—something the team plans to analyze during Friday practice.
“The VCARB 02 performed well at the last two races, but the midfield is extremely tight. We’ll need to push hard in qualifying and even harder on Sunday to turn a strong grid spot into points.”
Permane is also pleased to welcome Lawson back into the fold.
“We’re happy to have Liam rejoin us—he knows this track well from his Super Formula days in 2023. We’re looking forward to seeing him and Isack work together to get the most out of the car here, and for the rest of the season.”
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Lawson Back at Bulls – Hadjar Fired Up for Suzuka Lawson Back at Bulls – Hadjar Fired Up for Suzuka
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