Liam Lawson was all smiles after charging to a high six grid slot in Saturday’s Qualifying session for the Austrian Grand Prix, marking a breakthrough following his return to Racing Bulls.
Lawson began the 2025 marketing campaign on the senior Purple Bull group however was demoted after two difficult race weekends and has since been attempting to rebuild his confidence.
After flashes of promise, this weekend’s go to to the Purple Bull Ring has seen Lawson step it up a gear – the New Zealander constructing on sturdy observe tempo to achieve Q3 and brilliantly publish the sixth-fastest time.
With that marking his greatest grid place since final 12 months’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which he began from fifth, Lawson beamed: “It feels prefer it’s been a very long time! It’s actually cool to have a superb Quali.
“We see the whole lot behind the scenes and within the final couple of races the whole lot’s felt actually good, actually. I’ve felt actually good. We’ve executed a number of work on the automobile, and on my facet as effectively, simply to make it extra snug for me.
“It’s been there, it simply hasn’t proven, so it’s good to indicate it at the moment, however clearly tomorrow can be the vital day.”
Pressed on what has made the distinction to this point this weekend, he continued: “A clean Quali, actually. The final couple of weekends the tempo has been there via observe – Canada was sturdy, Barcelona was sturdy, and simply in Quali it wasn’t.
“This weekend, of all of the weekends to get it throughout the road, it’s been cool as a result of it’s so shut. It places stress on us behind the wheel to execute, and identical on the group.
“With the automobile we’ve been fine-tuning all weekend and we don’t have time to overlook something, as a result of everyone else is chasing as effectively. It’s cool to get it throughout the road!”
Lawson has only one factors end to his identify this season, courtesy of a run to eighth place on the Monaco Grand Prix, however he’s optimistic of including one other in Spielberg.
“I hope so!” Lawson stated of his probabilities. “On the identical time, the [tyre degradation] is respectable, and the lengthy runs are difficult. We had a superb long term [in practice], but it surely’s all the time totally different in a race if you’re in visitors, and I’m certain there’s going to be a mixture of methods.”
Lawson’s rookie group mate, Isack Hadjar, skilled a tougher session as he dropped out in the course of the Q2 part and can begin Sunday’s race from thirteenth.
“It’s disappointing, as a result of Q1 was wanting actually good,” the Frenchman mirrored. “Even my Q1 lap would have certified me for Q3, so I don’t understand how we will go backwards from that.
“Often we make progress and it wasn’t the case at the moment, so it’s very disappointing. It was very inconsistent in Q2, on each new units of tyres as effectively, so it’s onerous to grasp.”
