Lawson: My Confidence Hasn’t Changed Since the Red Bull Setback

Despite losing his Red Bull seat, Liam Lawson says his belief hasn’t wavered as he adjusts to life with the Racing Bulls.

Liam Lawson is heading into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a clear mindset and a desire to improve on his season opener in Bahrain. Despite a tough start and his recent demotion from Red Bull, the young New Zealander says his self-belief remains intact.

“I haven’t had the time to overthink things,” Lawson told reporters. “It’s not like I’ve looked back on the last two races and thought, ‘Wow, I’ve lost it.’ That’s not how it feels at all.”

At the Bahrain GP, Lawson admitted the Racing Bulls VCARB 02 wasn’t drastically off the pace, even though the results didn’t reflect their true potential.

“Every weekend in the car helps me feel more comfortable,” he explained. “We were actually more competitive in Bahrain than it looked. Now, I’m excited to test the car on a completely different track here in Saudi – new surface, faster layout, different challenges.”

As the field remains incredibly tight in 2025, Lawson knows that even the smallest gains can make a huge difference.

“In this grid, a tenth of a second can mean a drop of several positions. So, it’s hard to predict where we’ll end up – everything’s that close,” he added.

Despite a rocky start to the season and a difficult run with Red Bull last year, Lawson is confident he’s not falling into the same trap that has plagued others in the Red Bull system.

“Confidence-wise, I’m the same as I was at the start of the year,” he said. “It’s more about adapting to a new car and team as quickly as possible. That’s really where my focus is.”

Reflecting on the tricky start to 2025, Lawson pointed to unpredictable tire behavior and drastic temperature shifts as key challenges.

“Honestly, it’s been a strange year for tires,” he admitted. “In Japan it was freezing, then we went straight to the heat of Bahrain. Getting the tire preparation right in those conditions is really complex – and it’s something you can’t truly replicate in a simulator.”

“There are just some real-world elements that no amount of sim work can prepare you for,” he continued. “We’re good at modeling the car’s setup, but the variables we can’t control – that’s where it gets tough.”

As Lawson sets his sights on redemption in Saudi Arabia, one thing is clear: his mindset hasn’t wavered, and he’s still in the fight.

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Lawson: My Confidence Hasn’t Changed Since the Red Bull Setback
Lawson: My Confidence Hasn’t Changed Since the Red Bull Setback