F1 newcomers Hadjar and Lawson stepped up in Saudi Arabia, showing pace, poise and teamwork to earn a vital point.
Racing Bulls left Saudi Arabia with a hard-earned point—and a reason to feel optimistic.
Team Principal Laurent Mekies highlighted the strong debut performances of rookies Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, both racing at the high-speed Jeddah circuit for the first time in Formula 1. Despite missing out on Q3, Hadjar managed to bring home a valuable point after a well-executed race.
“It was a solid weekend for us in Jeddah,” said Mekies. “We had good race pace, and we fought hard for that point. It’s a tricky circuit—fast corners, walls right next to the track—but both Liam and Isack handled it well, especially given they’d never raced here in F1.”
Both drivers narrowly missed Q3 in qualifying, but the team made the most of strategy and tire management on race day.
“We went into the race unsure if we had the pace to challenge the cars ahead,” Mekies admitted. “But you could see the team and drivers gave it everything.”
Mekies also praised the balance between the two drivers: “They were very closely matched all weekend and kept pushing each other—that’s exactly what we want to see.”
Looking ahead, Mekies was clear about the team’s mindset: “We know there’s a lot of work ahead. Whether it’s in Faenza, Milton Keynes, or trackside, we’ll keep pushing. In two weeks, we go again in Miami, and we’ll be giving it everything.”
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Rookies Deliver as Racing Bulls Bag Point in Jeddah
Rookies Deliver as Racing Bulls Bag Point in Jeddah
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