Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP
Lawson is “the old Liam” again, having “looked sad” upon Racing Bulls return
Lawson may have been distraught following his demotion from Red Bull, but he's bouncing back, says Peter Bayer
Edited: Apr 18, 2025, 6:15 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer says he's pleased to see a reinvigorated Liam Lawson after noting that the Kiwi "looked a bit sad" after being jettisoned from Red Bull's Formula 1 team after just two rounds.
Lawson previously asserted that he had not suffered any changes to his confidence after his demotion to the Racing Bulls squad, though Bayer says he noted a perceptible change in his demeanour.
Although Lawson is yet to score a point on his return to the Italian squad, with whom he contested 11 races across 2023 and 2024, there have been flashes of pace as he seeks to restore his reputation.
Bayer says that a return to a familiar environment has been good for Lawson, and that the New Zealander is starting to become "the old Liam" once again.
"[Has he lost] confidence? No. But honestly, I think it took a moment for him to digest." Bayer said.
"The first time I saw him when he came to Italy, he looked a bit sad honestly, that's how I perceived him when he came in. He was a bit puzzled with everything that happened very quickly.
"But also at the same time, he knew the people, he knew all the tools, the set up, and I really felt that very quickly he was returning to be the old Liam.
"He's a great racer. He's somebody that has great humour and that's what we see now again."
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team
Photo by: Peter Fox - Getty Images
Bayer says that having Lawson back has been "pleasant", and had pleased the team with his pace across the Bahrain weekend – minus the DRS fault that afflicted qualifying.
The Austrian added that he was generally happy with Racing Bulls' progress in 2025 and the form of rookie Isack Hadjar, although pointed at "risk" in strategy during the opening races as one of its downfalls; the team's gamble with staying out on slicks in Australia and two-stopping in China hurt its potential for points.
"Welcoming Liam back to the team has been a pleasant experience ultimately, because we know him well. I had breakfast with him this morning, and he's in a good space. He's happy, he's motivated.
"He's looking forward to going racing and, and he also showed some pace last week in Bahrain, Q1. I think he was having sector times [similar to] Isack in sector 1, sector 3. We're confident that we'll have a good racing campaign from here.
"Laurent [Mekies] and the team, they also managed to unlock some pace in the car which we have seen in Melbourne and continuing from there, we had our ups and downs.
"We had points in our hands and took perhaps a bit too much risk on the strategy side.
"But at the same time, we're also happy with how Isack is developing as a young driver who did not have a lot of time in an F1 car, coming from F2, he has unlocked a lot of potential on track and off track. We're very happy with how he's doing."
Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Practice
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
Formula 1
71
Read Also:
Formula 1Mercedes is not the right place for Max Verstappen, says James Vowles
Formula 1Red Bull plays down Max Verstappen exit rumor as just "noise"
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Frederic Vasseur cools Lewis Hamilton title hype after Ferrari struggles
Next article F1 Saudi Arabian GP: FP2 red-flagged for Yuki Tsunoda crash, Lando Norris on top
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Racing Bulls
Who slept worst last night: Nikola Tsolov
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Who slept worst last night: Nikola Tsolov
Racing Bulls "not in a rush" to decide between three "fantastic" drivers for F1 2027
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Racing Bulls "not in a rush" to decide between three "fantastic" drivers for F1 2027
Latest news
Cetilar unveils blue Ferrari 499P ahead of Hypercar debut
Asian Le Mans
AsLM Asian Le Mans 29 min
Cetilar unveils blue Ferrari 499P ahead of Hypercar debut
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Malaysian GP
1 h
2026 MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix – How to watch, session times & more
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
"Two steps forward, one step back" – Oscar Piastri explains the route out of McLaren's car woes
Denny Hamlin proud of season despite another likely missed title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Martinsville II
3 h
Denny Hamlin proud of season despite another likely missed title
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe