Liam Lawson Reflects on Racing Against Max Verstappen Before Being Fired

Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson has opened up about comparing himself to Red Bull star Max Verstappen.



The New Zealander described it as “impressive to see what he does” and emphasized how even a brief time as Verstappen’s teammate offered valuable lessons.



“I’ve only raced in two races as his teammate, but even just seeing him from afar tells you a lot,” Lawson said.



Lawson began the 2025 season alongside the four-time world champion at Red Bull.



However, after just two Grands Prix, Lawson was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda and returned to Racing Bulls.



Despite the short stint, the experience provided him with insights into Verstappen’s speed, consistency, and car control.



“I’ve been comparing myself to Max for a few years now, and it’s impressive to see what he does,” Lawson added. “He’s simply very fast, very consistent, very comfortable with the car.”







Adjusting After Red Bull Departure



Lawson reflected on the challenges of leaving Red Bull mid-season.



“The timing wasn’t the best. I only had a week before a hat-trick [of races],” he explained. “Those were hectic times. The car also required a fairly different driving approach. I had to re-adapt, and since then, we’ve also made some changes to make me more comfortable over the course of a few races.”



He acknowledged that ideally, these adjustments would have been made before the start of the season.



“Obviously, the ideal would be to do all this before the start of the season, but I think it’s a process that has helped me feel comfortable in the last few races,” Lawson said.







Rediscovering Form at Racing Bulls



After a tough start to 2025, Lawson appears to have regained his form.



His career-best weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix saw him qualify in P3, boosting his confidence and standings.



The 23-year-old now sits on 30 points, just nine behind high-flying rookie and teammate Isack Hadjar.



Lawson admitted that the early-season struggles were partly due to limited testing opportunities.



Returning to Racing Bulls has allowed him to adjust and perform more consistently across the races.







Looking Ahead



Lawson’s reflections highlight the challenges rookies face in Formula 1 when moving between teams mid-season.



Comparisons with a driver of Verstappen’s caliber provide perspective but also set high standards to reach.



As he continues the 2025 campaign, Lawson seems determined to build on his recent performances and maintain momentum at Racing Bulls.
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