Liam Lawson, the 23-year-old New Zealand driver, has shown signs of returning to form after a challenging stint with the main Red Bull Formula One team. After the impressive form Lawson showed a few years back, Racing Bulls’ boss, Peter Bayer, stated that Lawson has regained his past good shape. This return comes after his March demotion to the sister club. Following a short call-up to the big club, Lawson found it tough to make an impression. He only lasted two races before Yuki Tsunoda replaced him.
In March, Red Bull made the surprising choice to drop Sergio Perez, promoting Lawson in a straight up replacement. The inexperienced young driver had a difficult time and failed to score a single championship point in his two races with the parent team. Consequently, he went back to Racing Bulls. Since then, Bayer has enjoyed a significant change in Lawson’s attitude and work product.
Early Challenges and Emotional Transition
When returning to Italy after his demotion, Lawson just didn’t seem emotionally equipped to cope with the sudden tempest of change in his career. Bayer said, “The first time I saw him when he came to Italy, he was in a way a sad face. Honestly, that’s how I perceived him. He was overwhelmed with what all took place in such a short time.” This initial melancholy served to underscore the pressure and weight of expectation on his shoulders during his short, injury-ravaged time with the senior side.
Bayer says they think this emotional transition had a longer time span for Lawson. “Personally, I think it took him a second to process,” said Bayer. This time around, Lawson was hellbent on settling back into the Racing Bulls environment. Help was at hand—familiar faces and team resources helped restore his confidence as he calmed down and regrouped.
Progress and Team Dynamics
Though Lawson had a rough start to the season, it seems that he’s bouncing back. He’s zeroed out in four races this year alone. His teammate Isack Hadjar has already scored a boatload of points. The stark difference in their shows has created even more pressure on Lawson as he continues to try and get back in his groove.
Lawson was right, Bayer knew this would be hard to internalize. He was just as familiar with the team’s toys and rig. On the flip side, he understood the people, the instruments, the environment,” Bayer said. This hope of familiarity should serve Lawson well during the upcoming season, as he’ll look to build upon a disappointing 2022 campaign.
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, Lawson aims to shake off the disappointments of earlier races and focus on achieving results with Racing Bulls. His return to form optimism With Bayer’s nurturance and encouragement, there is hope surrounding his bullish return to form. As the young driver understands, it takes an indomitable spirit to make it in Formula One. With each new race, he hopes to continue making his mark.
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