‘It’s been a long time!’ – Lawson boosted by ‘really cool’ run to P6 during Qualifying in Austria

Liam Lawson was all smiles after charging to a high six grid slot in Saturday’s Qualifying session for the Austrian Grand Prix, marking a breakthrough following his return to Racing Bulls.

Lawson began the 2025 marketing campaign on the senior Crimson Bull workforce however was demoted after two challenging race weekends and has since been attempting to rebuild his confidence.

After flashes of promise, this weekend’s go to to the Crimson Bull Ring has seen Lawson step it up a gear – the New Zealander constructing on robust observe tempo to achieve Q3 and brilliantly put up the sixth-fastest time.

With that marking his finest grid place since final yr’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which he began from fifth, Lawson beamed: “It feels prefer it’s been a very long time! It’s actually cool to have a very good Quali.

“We see all the pieces behind the scenes and within the final couple of races all the pieces’s felt actually good, truthfully. I’ve felt actually good. We’ve performed loads of work on the automotive, and on my aspect as properly, simply to make it extra comfy for me.

“It’s been there, it simply hasn’t proven, so it’s good to point out it at this time, however clearly tomorrow can be the vital day.”

Pressed on what has made the distinction thus far this weekend, he continued: “A easy Quali, truthfully. The final couple of weekends the tempo has been there via observe – Canada was robust, Barcelona was robust, and simply in Quali it wasn’t.

“This weekend, of all of the weekends to get it throughout the road, it’s been cool as a result of it’s so shut. It places strain on us behind the wheel to execute, and identical on the workforce.

“With the automotive we’ve been fine-tuning all weekend and we don’t have time to overlook something, as a result of everyone else is chasing as properly. It’s cool to get it throughout the road!”

Lawson has only one factors end to his identify this season, courtesy of a run to eighth place on the Monaco Grand Prix, however he’s optimistic of including one other in Spielberg.

“I hope so!” Lawson stated of his possibilities. “On the identical time, the [tyre degradation] is first rate, and the lengthy runs are tough. We had a very good future [in practice], however it’s at all times totally different in a race once you’re in site visitors, and I’m certain there’s going to be a mixture of methods.”

Lawson’s rookie workforce mate, Isack Hadjar, skilled a more difficult session as he dropped out throughout the Q2 part and can begin Sunday’s race from thirteenth.

“It’s disappointing, as a result of Q1 was wanting actually good,” the Frenchman mirrored. “Even my Q1 lap would have certified me for Q3, so I don’t know the way we will go backwards from that.

“Often we make progress and it wasn’t the case at this time, so it’s very disappointing. It was very inconsistent in Q2, on each new units of tyres as properly, so it’s laborious to grasp.”