Liam Lawson’s 2025 revival: how a suspension tweak saved his Racing Bulls seat
Liam Lawson endured a challenging start to the 2025 Formula 2 season following his demotion to Racing Bulls, struggling to find the right balance with the VCARB02’s front end. However, a minor modification to the front suspension sparked a remarkable turnaround, boosting his performance steadily and ultimately securing both his season and his seat for the 2026 campaign.
Between his demotion to Racing Bulls and the mid-season break, Lawson’s year appeared to be slipping away without impact. The forced return to Faenza after just two races in Red Bull had already dented his morale, particularly since Yuki Tsunoda’s results had only been marginally better—a point the New Zealander noted himself, emphasizing the limited time he had to adapt.
Even in the early races with Racing Bulls, Liam Lawson struggled to regain the confidence needed to extract the maximum from an otherwise competitive and versatile VCARB02. His pace was clearly inconsistent compared to teammate Isack Hadjar, and also relative to Yuki Tsunoda during the initial two races with the Faenza-based team. While the car’s potential was evident, a combination of strategic missteps and fragile driver feel meant Lawson could not translate it into solid results.
Now, with the season concluded and Liam Lawson confirmed to remain at Racing Bulls for 2026, that difficult phase appears almost like a distant memory. Central to his resurgence was a small yet decisive technical adjustment: a modification to the front suspension that restored steering feedback and driver confidence, effectively saving his seat.
Lawson initially showed inconsistent performances, hampered by imperfect front-end balance. At Faenza, engineers watched him work tirelessly in the simulator, experimenting and refining, yet the results on track were slow to materialize. Monaco was the only exception—a technical oasis where the VCARB02 excelled in slower sections. The first real step forward came in Austria, marking a visible change in trajectory.
The new front suspension, developed in the simulator, fundamentally altered Lawson’s connection to the car. The hidden internal adjustment restored natural steering feel and renewed his confidence, in a manner reminiscent of Lando Norris’ experience post-Montreal. Lando Norris had regained sensitivity and control after a targeted front-end component revision, enabling him to explore previously inaccessible setup options.
For Liam Lawson, the suspension tweak opened up a range of technical alternatives and, crucially, allowed him to rebuild lost confidence. Alan Permane, Racing Bulls Team Principal, highlighted that Austria marked the turning point in the first half of the season—Lawson’s best weekend to that point, where he finally regained rhythm and conviction.
From that moment onward, Liam Lawson built his championship campaign step by step, achieving the consistency that had eluded him earlier. While he did not consistently outperform his teammate, the Red Bull-promoted Yuki Tsunoda, the performance gap narrowed significantly. The upward trend, even without standout results, was sufficient to secure his seat for 2026.
By mid-season, Lawson remained behind Hadjar, and although the French driver maintained a points advantage by the season’s end, Lawson’s continuity improved markedly. In the second half of the year, the points difference between the two was a mere four points. Occasional lapses in judgment occurred, often stemming from Lawson’s aggressive driving style, but overall, his progress was clear.
The recovery was not dramatic or transformative, yet it demonstrated something Red Bull valued highly: a clear upward trajectory, contrasting sharply with his early-season struggles. Consequently, Milton Keynes decided to back Lawson for the future, favoring him over Yuki Tsunoda, who had options to return to Faenza. Early in the summer, this decision was far from guaranteed, with mounting pressure and an uncertain seat at stake.
Lawson’s response was measured and consistent—not a miraculous podium, but a steady improvement catalyzed by a small technical upgrade. This single modification proved pivotal both technically and psychologically, restoring his confidence. With stability finally achieved in a team environment, the upcoming 2026 season represents a critical opportunity for Lawson to consolidate his position and determine his long-term F1 future.
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