Lawson embraces Suzuka challenge: “It’s nice to feel welcomed back”

Finishing his first day back in the Racing Bulls garage on a high with a top-five finish in FP2, Liam Lawson said “it’s nice to feel welcomed back” as he sets his sights on Qualifying.

Back on track for the first time since his painful demotion from Red Bull, Lawson opened the first hour of on-track activity on the hard compound tyre as he started to familiarise himself with his new machinery.

Ratifying his opening run, Lawson settled into P17 before making instant improvements on his second flying tour of the iconic Suzuka International Circuit, setting personal best sectors across the lap.

Spending a decent amount of time in the garage, the Kiwi returned to the track on the soft compound tyre.

Lawson set a solid top-ten time of 1:29.536s, before getting a front-row seat to two lessons of what not to do in Suzuka, as both Lando Norris and Alex Albon ventured off into the gravel traps ahead of the Kiwi.

Lawson was at a two-tenth deficit to Isack Hadjar as the session came to a close, taking the chequered flag in P13 for his first session in the VCARB 02.

“It was a good day, nice to be driving,” Lawson said.

“Nice to be driving at Suzuka again, it’s a very cool track. 

“With the resurfacing, Sector 1 is faster now — yeah, just feels like it’s tearing your head off which is quite exciting.

“All in all, a good day but tomorrow’s the more important one.”

In the second session, executing pre-planned programs became an impossible task thanks to four Red Flag interruptions.

Despite more than 40 minutes of running going to waste due to the delays, Lawson and his teammate made the most of their limited performance runs, completing a total of 13 laps under green-track conditions.

Lawson took the chequered flag with the fifth fastest time to his name, a 1:28.559s, while Hadjar cemented his place in P3, four-hundredths ahead of the Kiwi.

Ranking among the top contenders, the RBs also outpaced both Red Bull drivers in FP2.

“[The car] felt good, it does feel different [to the Red Bull], definitely,” he said. 

“I think it’s maybe not what everyone expected, but it is definitely a different feeling to drive.

“I think that the window that the guys have at the moment is very, very good and the car has been fast so far this season.

“Hopefully we can replicate that tomorrow as well.”

The Kiwi ended the day with a smile on his face, a rare showing compared to the last few weekends as he reflected on the warm welcome he’s received since reuniting with the RB crew.

“It’s been nice — everybody has been very, very positive, even from last week,” Lawson said.

“Laurent [Mekies] was straight on the phone and, you know, very, very positive.

“He was saying all the things I needed to hear, going to see everyone at the factory and, obviously, yesterday coming into the paddock as well.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with this team, they’re a great bunch of people and it’s nice to feel welcomed back again.

“So, hopefully, we can go and have some good races together.”

Lawson will have one more hour of practice ahead of his first qualifying session with his former team, with FP3 kicking off at 13:30 AEDT.

Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

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