Lawson after Barcelona tests: “The true pecking order remains a mystery”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Liam Lawson expressed satisfaction with the Racing Bulls’ Barcelona tests, saying, “We are making progress.” The team completed the first 2026 shakedown successfully, but Lawson offered a cautious assessment ahead of the new season. Despite running their full program, the New Zealander stressed that the real hierarchy among teams remains, for now, a “deep mystery.” On the final morning of testing, Lawson completed 64 laps before handing over the car to teammate Arvid Lindblad.
Positive reliability signs
Overall, Lawson reported optimism about the car’s reliability. “We’ve made huge strides compared to Monday and ticked all the boxes regarding mileage and car durability,” he said. However, with the introduction of the new 2026 technical regulations, Lawson tempered expectations: “We’re improving a lot, but so is everyone else. At the moment, it’s impossible to know where we stand against the competition. The uncertainty will stick with us for quite a while.”
The team’s objectives
Racing Bulls now aim to continue gathering valuable data to refine the car. While the initial performance looks promising, the team will face a completely reshuffled grid due to the new regulations. Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad both praised the engine’s early reliability. Despite minor technical hiccups, the car covered substantial mileage without critical issues. Lawson highlighted the advantages of having a “home-built” power unit, which significantly changes the approach to car development.
New regulations could highlight driver talent
Liam Lawson also shared an intriguing perspective on the 2026 regulations. According to the New Zealander, the new cars are very different to drive and could place greater emphasis on driver skill: “There’s a lot more room for us as drivers to make a difference compared to before. The cars require a deep adaptation. I haven’t fully mastered everything yet, but I feel we’ll have a bigger impact on performance.”
The tests were also the first real evaluation of the new driver pairing. The young British talent, Arvid Lindblad, completed an intense program, finishing one session with a 1:18.451 lap, very close to experienced drivers like Oscar Piastri and Lawson himself, who clocked 1:18.840. Liam Lawson now finds himself in the role of team “veteran” and confirmed that communication with Lindblad has been excellent—a key factor for developing a car designed from a clean sheet of paper. The definitive verdict on the car’s competitiveness is expected during the official Bahrain tests in mid-February.
Liam Lawson’s reflections on the 2026 shakedown suggest that while Racing Bulls has secured a reliable baseline with its new Red Bull-Ford power unit, the true competitive landscape remains shrouded in secrecy. By highlighting the increased physical and technical demands placed on the driver, Lawson hints at a new era where adaptability and talent could overcome raw aerodynamic figures. Ultimately, the successful collaboration between the “veteran” Lawson and the rookie Lindblad in Barcelona has set a productive tone for the team; however, the real measure of their progress will only be revealed when the SF-26, W17, and RB22 are pushed to their limits under the desert heat of Sakhir.
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