Liam Lawson's Red Bull Stint Ends as He Returns to Racing Bulls in Baku
Liam Lawson’s brief, sharp spell in Red Bull colours is over. The New Zealander will be back in the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls garage for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, his stint as Formula 1’s most reliable stand‑in brought to an abrupt but expected close.
The 24-year-old was drafted into the senior team in August as a super-sub for Isack Hadjar, the French‑Algerian recovering from a wrist injury picked up over the summer break. Three races, three points finishes, 14 points on the board. No drama, no excuses. Just a driver who looked like he belonged.
It was a very different picture from his last run with Red Bull. Then, he lasted only two races before being shuffled back down the order. This time, he leaves with credit in the bank.
Hadjar’s recovery, though, always pointed to a temporary arrangement. In a statement confirming the French‑Algerian’s return to the cockpit for the street fight in Baku, Red Bull made a point of underlining exactly what Lawson had given them.
“The team would like to sincerely thank Liam for his professionalism, dedication and hard work over the past three races," the statement read. “Stepping in under challenging circumstances, he delivered some impressive performances and made a valuable contribution to the team. We wish him all the best as he returns to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls.”
No fanfare. Just a clear nod that he’d done the job.
A Super-Sub Who Delivered
Lawson’s numbers tell part of the story. Fourteen points from three grands prix is solid business for a late call‑up in a car he doesn’t know inside out. He was in the mix at Zandvoort, strong again at Monza before contact with Nico Hülkenberg and front wing damage wrecked what might have been another big result, and then he signed off with sixth place at the Spanish Grand Prix.
That Barcelona drive drew warm words from Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies, who knows exactly how unforgiving a mid-season switch can be.
“I think he's done a very good job," Mekies said. "I think we all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and I think that he has done that to the best of what could have been our expectations.
“He has taken some very important points today with the P6. He did the same in Zandvoort and in Monza he would have done something similar without the contact with Nico [Hulkenberg] and the front wing damage.
“So, I think he did a very good job, again very different pictures compared to the first two races of 2025 when he was in the team so we are thankful and happy with that.”
That last line matters. Lawson’s first taste of life in the senior team in early 2025 was turbulent. This version of him is sharper, calmer, and crucially, scoring.
Rebooted Season, Familiar Colours
Now he drops back into Racing Bulls colours with momentum on his side rather than questions hanging over his future. Before the Red Bull call came, Lawson had been quietly piecing together a strong campaign, stabilising after a chaotic 2025 that threatened to derail his rise.
Ninth in the drivers’ standings, regularly leading the midfield, collecting points with a consistency that eluded him last year – this is a season of repair and rebuild. The three-race cameo with the big team only reinforced that arc.
Back in his usual seat, Lawson knows exactly what he needs from Baku.
"It feels great to be back in my car alongside the team as we head to Baku," he said. "It has been a busy few weeks with the switch to Red Bull Racing, and I'm looking forward to getting back into the rhythm with the team and focusing on the weekend ahead."
Baku is no gentle reintroduction. The walls are close, the long straights punish drag, and the margin for error is thin. But it’s also the kind of circuit where a confident midfield driver can turn opportunity into something bigger.
Hadjar Returns, The Battle Resumes
For Hadjar, this weekend is a restart of his own story. His enforced absence opened the door for Lawson’s surge. Now he steps back into a car that has just been hustled into the points by someone else, the internal benchmark raised.
For Red Bull and Racing Bulls, it’s a luxury problem: two young drivers with pace, one senior seat already spoken for, and a junior outfit that suddenly looks like a proving ground with real competitive teeth.
On-track action in Azerbaijan begins tomorrow, with first practice at 10.30pm (NZT). The race lights go out at 11pm on Saturday.
Lawson will be back in the blue of Racing Bulls, not the red of the senior squad. But with the way he’s driven these past three races, the real question now is simple: how long can Red Bull keep him waiting?
