“The speed's really good”: Liam Lawson delivers his verdict on VCARB after ‘one of the best races’ of his career
Liam Lawson believes the 2025 Abu Dhabi GP was one of his strongest races during his stint in Formula 1, despite the challenges he faced throughout the weekend. Speaking to media, including Sportskeeda, the VCARB driver reflected on his performance, highlighting his recovery efforts despite a series of setbacks.
After qualifying 12th, just behind teammate Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson’s race seemed promising. Tsunoda faced difficulties with his car going into anti-stall due to a clutch issue, creating an opportunity for the Kiwi to finish ahead of him. However, Lawson’s race unraveled during his pit stop when the team failed to properly fit the front-left wheel. This mistake forced him to limp around the circuit for an entire lap before making a second stop to fix the issue.
To add to his woes, Lawson received a penalty for an unsafe release, dropping him to the back of the field. His misfortune didn’t end there—a mechanical failure on the penultimate lap forced him to retire. As he exited the car, it began rolling away in a dramatic moment, capping off a frustrating end to his race.
Despite the result, Lawson remained positive, describing it as a painful yet valuable experience. He felt his pace was on par with the drivers ahead and viewed the race as a testament to his resilience, even though it ended in a retirement.
Asked by Sportskeeda to describe his difficult race, Liam Lawson said:
“It's always painful, especially when the speed's really good. So even though we were out of the points and a couple laps down, we actually had a really good pace, similar to guys at the end of the race there. So, yeah, look, it's just one of those things.”
Asked by Sportskeeda how he could summarise his second stint in F1, he replied:
“Honestly it's been good and to be perfectly honest, today's race was probably one of the best races I’ve driven, even though we're two laps down, the speed was really strong and I gave it absolutely everything as I have done in all these sessions. So I'm happy with the race today in terms of performance, obviously it just sucks that we couldn't show it.”
Liam Lawson feels he will have more clarity on his future after the Abu Dhabi GP
Liam Lawson remains uncertain about his future in Formula 1 beyond the 2025 season. The 22-year-old New Zealander stepped in to replace Daniel Ricciardo at VCARB during the Austin GP and has since been awaiting clarity on his next steps. Speaking to the media in Abu Dhabi, Lawson acknowledged that he is still in the dark on whether he will secure a contract with VCARB or Red Bull for the upcoming season.
Red Bull has indicated that if Sergio Perez’s seat were to become vacant, one of the VCARB drivers would be the natural choice for promotion. However, Lawson said he expects to know more about his career prospects only in the coming weeks.
Asked by Sportskeeda if he knew anything about his future after the race, Liam Lawson said:
“No, I don't know yet. Obviously my goal is to be in Formula One next year, but I don't know where that'll be right now.”
Asked about when he is likely to know, he replied:
"I would hope for the next few days. I hope they don't leave me hanging too long. So let's see.”
Speculation continues to swirl around Liam Lawson’s future in Formula 1, suggesting that he has been in a direct shootout with Yuki Tsunoda for a potential seat at Red Bull Racing. Both VCARB drivers participated in the post-race Pirelli test, with Tsunoda notably getting behind the wheel of Max Verstappen’s Red Bull. However, it remains unclear whether Lawson will replace Sergio Perez on the senior team or secure a contract with VCARB for the 2025 season.
The Red Bull junior team, which had been leading the midfield at one point, ultimately finished eighth in the Constructors’ Championship. Lawson scored four points in the six races he contested during the 2024 season, further showcasing his potential amid the uncertainty surrounding his future.