Liam Lawson has impressed Red Bull as a ‘senior figure’ in Isack Hadjar’s F1 development

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Liam Lawson has been hailed at Red Bull Racing for the role he played in Isack Hadjar’s development during his maiden Formula 1 season.

The 2026 season will see Isack Hadjar try to become the teammate to Max Verstappen that Red Bull have always hoped for.

It’s a role that many drivers have tried and failed to fill in the past, including Liam Lawson.

Lawson only managed two races at Red Bull before he was shifted back down into the Racing Bulls team and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.

Tsunoda couldn’t live up to the required expectations either, and so Hadjar will hope that the sport’s new regulations, and therefore a brand new car, will level the playing field enough for him to compete with Verstappen.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Liam Lawson praised by Red Bull sources for being a ‘senior figure’ in Isack Hadjar’s development

As soon as Tsunoda’s struggles in the RB21 became clear, Hadjar was being lined up as his potential replacement for 2026.

The young Frenchman was the final driver to have his seat confirmed last season, but several impressive performances as well as a brilliant qualifying record put him on Red Bull’s radar.

Hadjar impressed Helmut Marko enough to earn a promotion, and his podium at Zandvoort was the standout moment for the 21-year-old.

A report from the New Zealand Herald has shared more details about Lawson’s role behind the scenes in Hadjar’s maiden F1 campaign.

Which driver will be the biggest disappointment of 2026, other than the Aston Martin duo?

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They describe Lawson as Hadjar’s ‘unofficial mentor’ and believe that his presence as a ‘senior figure’ within the team impressed Red Bull.

Red Bull saw Lawson’s work behind the scenes last season as a massive positive, and it was one of the reasons why he was retained ahead of Tsunoda when deciding who to partner with Arvid Lindblad this year.

Although Lawson will want to get the better of the British teenager, he will recognise that his importance as a senior driver in the team is one of the reasons why he’s still on the grid.

Jolyon Palmer has questioned whether Lawson has enough experience to lead Racing Bulls this season, but Red Bull have clearly seen enough to not possess the same concerns.

READ MORE: All to know about Racing Bulls from team principal to Red Bull affiliation

Arvid Lindblad’s ‘incredible potential’ earmarked by Red Bull as Liam Lawson prepares for 2026

The report goes on to say that ‘the door appears to be closed’ on Lawson returning to Red Bull, and the hope is that Hadjar and Verstappen will be Laurent Mekies’ pairing for years to come.

However, Hadjar slipped up in testing with a crash in Barcelona, and Verstappen has voiced his concerns about the 2026 regulation changes, meaning the team always need to have a backup plan.

Red Bull believe Lindblad has ‘incredible potential’, and he’s already beginning to impress people in the paddock.

It’s been suggested that Lindblad is already close to Lawson’s level, which, if that’s the case, then the intra-team battle between the pair will be fascinating.

Lawson has been approaching testing differently from his F1 rivals, and all eyes are now on Melbourne and whether his driving style is going to pay off.