A year ago, Red Bull announced the driver swap between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix. The first two races of the year were disastrous for Lawson, Max Verstappen’s former teammate, while Tsunoda shone in the “junior sister” team.
Since the 2025 Suzuka Grand Prix, much has changed at Red Bull. Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are no longer with the team, and Yuki Tsunoda is off the 2026 grid. Lawson, the driver once set to leave Formula 1, is ready to silence all the rumors once and for all. Could this be the year of Liam Lawson’s rebirth against the other Red Bull drivers?
Liam Lawson: 2026 gets off to the right start
Last year, nobody would have expected to see Tsunoda struggling more than Lawson. Yet, the 2025 season told the opposite story. Lawson gradually gained confidence with the car, helped by the reduced pressure compared to the main team. Meanwhile, the Japanese driver, confident he could perform well, ended the season with regrets and fewer points than his rival.
The first two races of 2026 see Liam Lawson tied on points with Max Verstappen, a scenario no fan or observer could have imagined. In just one year, the situation within Red Bull has completely flipped.
Verstappen suffered reliability issues in China that forced him to retire while running sixth. Lawson also faced setbacks, such as during the start in Australia. So far, the Racing Bulls driver has reached Q3 in Melbourne and scored double seventh-place finishes in both Saturday’s sprint and Sunday’s race – results that are essential for staying in Formula 1.
Compared to last year, the two Red Bull-powered teams are much closer in terms of raw performance. Both Lawson and his new teammate Arvid Lindblad are satisfied with the car, and both have scored points. For the first time in over 15 years, it seems the smaller Faenza-based team is in a stronger position than the “senior sister” team.
Liam Lawson: how one year can make all the difference
The demotion from Red Bull to Racing Bulls proved to be a lifeline for the 2002-born driver. Although being replaced after only two races was a harsh decision, the familiar and less stressful environment of the Faenza team became the key factor in his resurgence. Turning around the poor situation he faced at the third race of 2025 was not guaranteed, but Lawson did not let Red Bull’s decision discourage him and gradually fought back race by race.
Now, with more experience and a solid understanding of the team around him, it was predictable to see him in top form. If Lawson continues to deliver strong results throughout the 2026 season, not only would he secure his seat for the following year, but he would also close one of the most remarkable F1 comeback stories in recent memory.
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