Formula 1: Liam Lawson outpaces Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar in Austrian Grand Prix practice
Liam Lawson wasn't able to start the Austrian Grand Prix weekend with top 10 practice finishes the way he did in Barcelona and Canada, but the Kiwi driver got through a solid day's work at Spielberg's Red Bull Ring.
The Racing Bulls driver managed a 15th-place finish in Free Practice
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F1: Liam Lawson energised to perform in Austrian GP
Liam Lawson and Racing Bulls are likely to face similar issues they had in Canada a fortnight ago when they take on the Austrian F1 Grand Prix this weekend. Racing Bulls were well out of the points in Montreal and the team will hopefully have fixed any issues in the time since. Racing Bulls admitted they lacked pace to challenge for the top 10 in Canada with team principal Laurent Mekies hoping they could change that in time for Austria after some work back at the team base in Britain. Lawson's cause wasn't helped when he was forced to start from the pit lane after the team made some changes to his power unit. Unfortunately, cooling issues forced him to retire late in the race. He can only hope the car is at its best because Red Bull Ring is a unique circuit where the margins become even finer. ADVERTISEMENT It is one of the shortest and fastest circuits on the calendar with drivers completing a lap in just over a minute. It has just 10 corners, but has three DRS zones allowing for overtaking. The downforce setting becomes critical to balance the speed of the straights and the grip needed on the fast corners. Lawson has raced there in junior categories. "I've really enjoyed the track but, obviously in F1, it will bring an entirely new pressure," Lawson said. "I'm coming into this weekend with fresh energy following Canada and am ready to fight for points with the team." Both Lawson and Isack Hadjar have spent a lot of time in the simulator since Canada, while chief technical officer Tim Goss said they'll "take forward some further setup adjustments to maximise the car's capabilities". ADVERTISEMENT Qualifying will again be the key to picking up points. Lawson has made the third part of qualifying just once this season and that was in Monaco when he went on to grab his only points. Meanwhile, Red Bull have confirmed that British youngster Arvid Lindblad will get his first grand prix weekend outing at the British GP at Silverstone next week. The 17-year-old obtained his FIA Superlicence earlier this month. Lindblad, who won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand last summer and currently races in F2, will be involved during Friday practice at Silverstone. Until now, Ayumu Iwasa has been the only reserve driver for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
RNZ News
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Liam Lawson again battling to make gains in F1
Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Racing Bulls during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria. Photo: GUENTHER IBY Lando Norris has led Formula 1 leader Oscar Piastri in a McLaren one-two in the second practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, after George Russell went fastest for Mercedes in the opening session. Norris had handed his car to Alex Dunne for an impressive F1 practice debut for the Irish rookie and Formula Two leader, but the Briton was right up to speed as soon as he got back behind the wheel. After Russell's best of one minute 05.542 seconds in the early afternoon, Norris - 22 points behind Piastri in the title battle after 10 of 24 races - lapped in 1:04.580 with Piastri 0.157 slower. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen, a five-times winner at his team's home circuit, was the only other driver under the five second mark with a 1:04.898. Russell, winner from pole position in Canada two weeks ago after the McLarens collided, was sixth in practice two with Lance Stroll a surprise fourth for Aston Martin and Charles Leclerc fifth for Ferrari. Verstappen was without regular race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase for the weekend due to personal reasons with Simon Rennie taking over. Dunne, given track time as part of team obligations to give rookie drivers F1 experience, was the talk of the first session when he lapped fourth fastest and only 0.069 slower than Piastri. Still only 19 and the first Irish driver in 22 years to take part in a grand prix weekend, he thanked the team over the radio as the chequered flag fell. "A little boy's dream came true, and this is definitely the best day of my life," he said. "Thank you everyone for letting me do this, and thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car." New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson. Photo: MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT New Zealand's Liam Lawson meantime, posted the 15th fastest time in the first session, and then the 12th fastest time in the second session. Lawson's Racing Bulls boss, teamn principal Laurent Mekies, says Lawson's getting there. "I think we now all agree that jumping into a car mid-season is going to be difficult regardless of where you are on the pit lane and I think we have to give him time to get used to the car. "But what we see is that the speed is there. He may not yet be putting it together when it matters but we are trying everything we can to support him," Mekies said. The final practice session is late tonight New Zealand time, with qualifying to follow early in the morning. The race will be at 1am on Monday. - Reuters
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