Lawson “just happy to be racing” ahead of Bahrain GP

Gearing up for his second race back with Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson returns to familiar ground in Bahrain but with the added challenge of adapting to a new car he didn’t test at the circuit, having run pre-season in Red Bull colours.

Playing fill-in across 2023 and 2024, the Bahrain Grand Prix was one race Liam Lawson had yet to take on — until this weekend.

Lawson finished the Japanese Grand Prix in P17, with his strategy that saw him end the race on the soft compound going to waste when he found himself held up in an unmoving DRS train. 

Throughout the course of the weekend, however, the RB driver showed some positive signs, getting more comfortable as he was warmly welcomed to the team, and taking the personal win of out-qualifying his Red Bull replacement on Saturday.

“It’s just nice to be racing again,” Lawson said.

“Obviously, it’s been a chaotic couple of weeks and months, and to be just able to go racing and focus on all of that is really the best thing, I think, for me.

“It was a good start, it was nice to be back with the team last weekend and nice to feel like we just slid right in.

“Although the race wasn’t amazing, I think the weekend, honestly, was quite ok, so yeah, lots of positives to take from it.

“And yeah, just happy to be racing again.”

Rain was a factor at Suzuka, but in Sahkir, the hot temperatures look set to dictate how the weekend will play out, especially considering the huge difference between the conditions during pre-season testing. 

“It’s looking like it’s going to be very very hot, especially this year, but being a night race, it brings different conditions,” the #30 said.

“It’s an iconic track which is normally very hard on the tyres but it’s also a track that the team have tested at, so hopefully we can put everything learned from testing into the car this weekend.”

But from Lawson’s side of the garage, he has relatively no testing knowledge to draw upon given the fact that he was signed and working as a Red Bull Racing driver back in February.

“The car is — although I drove a lot last year — it is definitely different to what I’ve been driving and it probably took a bit of an adjustment,” he said.

“I think from everyone’s side, the team has a very positive start to the year, although the points don’t show that from the team.

“The speeds been really, really good and, we’re not taking it for granted, but obviously focused on staying there and trying to improve with everybody.

“And for me, obviously coming in now, it’s just a good opportunity for me.

“At a track that everybody has tested, so this weekend will probably be quite tough — probably even closer than it’s been which is quite crazy — but we’re all just focused on the job.”

Racing under the floodlights has previously proved virtuous for the Kiwi, with Lawson’s first-ever points in F1 being scored at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, making it no surprise to hear his excitement about Sunday’s night race.

“Very excited for Bahrain, it’s a night race which is cool, I love a night race,” Lawson said.

“Having Japan now under my belt in the VCARB, I’m looking forward to going straight into having another opportunity to get to grips with the car. 

“We could see from last week that it’s got great potential, so I’m excited to start getting the most of out of it.” 

The first practice session of the weekend will take place tonight at 21:30 AEST.

Image: Formula 1

Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE

Read the new issue of Auto Action Digital HERE

Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.