The Racing Bulls driver is eager to get behind the wheel of the new generation of Formula 1 cars.
What the New Zealander said
“The 2026 regulations could be fantastic or they could fail; we hope they turn out to be exciting,” Liam Lawson said, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming technical and regulatory revolution in Formula 1.
So far, drivers have not expressed much enthusiasm. That has been the feedback after simulator tests carried out in 2025, and even at the end of 2024, on the dynamics expected in 2026—particularly active aerodynamics and electric energy management.
According to Liam Lawson, the latter aspect will give drivers a more central role than in recent years. “I haven’t driven it yet, of course,” the New Zealander said, as reported by NextGen-Auto regarding the 2026 cars. “From what I understand from the simulator, it will be very different from any other car we’ve driven so far. It’s going to be a huge change. So the time we dedicate to studying every aspect before the first test will be extremely important. The energy management we’ll have to perform with the 2026 car will be critical. Potentially, the driver will have a much greater impact. So it’s something we really need to be aware of. There are more things a driver can do in the car to help make a difference.”
As the power units move toward a 50-50 split between internal combustion and electric power, the “human element” of deciding when to deploy or harvest energy could become the ultimate tie-breaker in a sport where every millisecond counts. For Liam Lawson, this represents an opportunity for the grid’s best tacticians to truly stand out.
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