Liam Lawson did not look ‘comfortable’ trying to drive like Max Verstappen in F1 testing

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Max Verstappen and Red Bull made an impressive start to F1’s Bahrain test on Wednesday. Verstappen set the second fastest time, just over a tenth behind world champion Lando Norris.

More importantly, perhaps, Verstappen completed 136 laps, the highest of any individual driver, and the underlying numbers looked ominous.

Toto Wolff believes Red Bull have the fastest car and the best engine after studying them closely in Sakhir. This would be one of F1’s great feats given that they are a brand new power unit manufacturer.

Is Toto Wolff playing mind games with Red Bull?

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As the sport goes almost 50% electric in 2026, the driver will play a crucial role in managing energy deployment. And Verstappen is already honing a clever technique that’s paying off down the straights.

Liam Lawson tried to use Max Verstappen’s gear technique in Bahrain F1 test

Verstappen started taking corners in a lower gear so that the engine revs were higher, which helps with energy recovery. The drivers are having to experiment more so than ever before in testing.

As reported by The Race, it was noticeable that Norris, Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly were all trying the same tactic during Thursday’s session. Trackside observer Scott Mitchell-Malm suspects they may be following Verstappen’s lead.

Prove me wrong: Liam Lawson can show he deserves another chance at Red Bull

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The method could be particularly effective for Liam Lawson, who is also using a Red Bull power unit at Racing Bulls. However, the report notes that Lawson ‘did not look as comfortable at all’.

There’s a trade-off to using a lower gear, which can trigger rear instability. Lawson looked more settled using second gear at the tight, off-camber, downhill turn 10 apex.

Liam Lawson is working with a new engineer at Racing Bulls

If Red Bull have indeed built the best engine – it’s unclear if Wolff is simply applying pressure – then it could transform Lawson’s prospects for the season.

Adrian Newey has predicted that F1 will be an engine formula in 2026, which effectively means power unit performance will play a greater role in determining the pecking order than aerodynamic efficiency.

But in addition to the mechanical adaptation process, Lawson has to get used to a new engineer. Alexandre Iliopoulos has replaced Ernesto Desiderio for 2026.

The change arguably comes at the worst possible time for Lawson. Synergy between driver and engineer will be more important than ever, a consequence of the new regulations being so complex.