Liam Lawson Sets Sights on Redemption at Suzuka After Red Bull Demotion

SUZUKA, Japan — Liam Lawson displayed optimism after returning to racing with the junior team Racing Bulls during Friday’s practice for the Japanese Grand Prix. After a challenging stint with the senior Red Bull team, Lawson concluded the first practice session at Suzuka Circuit in seventh place.

In a day marked by interrupted running, Lawson finished just a few hundredths behind his new teammate Isack Hadjar, who secured third. Following the session, Lawson expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “It was a good day. Nice to be driving, nice to be driving at Suzuka again.”

The 23-year-old Kiwi added that the newly resurfaced track allowed for a thrilling experience in the car. “Sector 1 is even faster now, so it just feels like it’s tearing your head off, which is quite exciting,” he noted. Lawson also recognized the importance of the following day’s qualifying sessions, emphasizing, “Obviously tomorrow’s the more important one.”

Lawson’s return to Racing Bulls comes after a brief tenure at Red Bull, during which he struggled to perform in the first two races of the 2025 season. He was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, following Tsunoda’s improved results. Lawson thanked Racing Bulls and team boss Laurent Mekies for the warm welcome back he received, emphasizing the positivity from the team.

“It’s been nice. Everybody’s been very, very positive. Laurent was straight on the phone saying all the things I needed to hear,” he shared. He hopes that the team can leverage their speed from the season thus far, stating, “The car’s been fast so far this season, so hopefully we can replicate that tomorrow.”

Hadjar also had a strong start to his weekend, securing a top-three finish in practice while navigating several red flags during the session. The French driver expressed excitement about the combination of the car and the Suzuka track. “It was more than encouraging and just really fun. I loved today,” Hadjar said. “We know what to work on and I think we’re on a good way for a good result tomorrow.”

Lawson’s demotion from Red Bull has stirred discussions in the paddock regarding the pressure and performance benchmarks placed on drivers within the team. Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s lead driver, recently acknowledged his dissatisfaction with the team’s decision to replace Lawson and expressed his belief that the issues within the team should be thoroughly examined.

Verstappen noted, “We discussed that already during last weekend, race weekend, back at the factory. My reaction was shared with the team, about not only the swap, but about everything.”

Referencing the greater challenges faced by second drivers in the Red Bull camp, he added, “I think it’s more important that we take a good look at ourselves and just keep on working and keep on improving the car.”

Lawson will have the opportunity to prove himself over the weekend at Suzuka, a circuit where he has previously raced with success in the Super Formula series. As the young driver prepares for the challenges ahead, a strong performance in the upcoming qualifying and race could be pivotal for his career aspirations.