Liam Lawson: Racing Bulls boss praises racer’s resurgence after demotion

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Liam Lawson has shown resilience and determination in bouncing back after being demoted by Red Bull earlier this year, according to Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer. The young driver’s return to form has been a positive storyline heading into this weekend’s Saudi Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old New Zealander was briefly promoted from Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls, to the main Red Bull Formula 1 team in March after the departure of underperforming veteran Sergio Pérez. However, Lawson’s stint at the top was short-lived. Following just two races, he was swapped back to Racing Bulls, trading places with Yuki Tsunoda.

Although Lawson has yet to score points in the four races since his demotion, while his rookie French teammate Isack Hadjar has already registered on the score sheet, Bayer believes Lawson has rediscovered his confidence and character within the Faenza-based team.

"I think it took a moment for him to digest," Bayer said, reflecting on Lawson’s emotional state after returning to Racing Bulls. "First time I saw him when he came to Italy, he looked a bit sad. Honestly, that's how I perceived him. He was a bit puzzled with everything that happened very quickly."

The Racing Bulls chief noted that despite the initial disappointment, Lawson’s familiarity with the team and its operations helped him settle back into his groove.

"But also, at the same time, he knew the people, the tools, the set-up. And I really felt that very quickly he was returning to being the old Liam," Bayer added. "He's a great racer, somebody that has great humor, and that's what we see now again."

With Lawson regaining his confidence and humor, the team is optimistic about his potential to bounce back and deliver valuable results in the remainder of the season. For now, however, all eyes will be on the Saudi Grand Prix as Lawson and Racing Bulls look to regain momentum.

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