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Liam Lawson got one back over his Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad as he scored points at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Being the experienced driver in the team, the New Zealander was expected to take a step forward in 2026. However, rookie Lindblad has already proven that he will be a tough opponent.
Ralf Schumacher felt Lindblad ‘completely outclassed’ Lawson in Melbourne as he finished an impressive eighth while his teammate was down in 13th. Lawson looked ‘completely lost’ with the new regulations, but a week later, he dramatically turned that around.
The plaudits go to Kimi Antonelli, but who else in the top 10 impressed you at the Chinese Grand Prix?
Let us know in the comments below!
The 24-year-old finished seventh at the Chinese Grand Prix after getting knocked out in Q2. Four cars failed to start the race, and three more retirements, plus some solid driving, helped guide Lawson to six points.
F1 fans praised Lawson’s tyre management in Shanghai, and Jolyon Palmer felt it was the ‘perfect response’ to his teammate after he had the better of him in Melbourne.
Jolyon Palmer praises Liam Lawson’s ‘perfect response’ at the Chinese Grand Prix
Speaking via F1 Nation, the former Renault F1 driver lauded Lawson’s display over the weekend: “Perfect response. It is always difficult because everyone was sort of saying the pressure’s on Liam. He’s got more experience.
“Arvid Lindblad came in and showed what a talent he is. But again, just a kind of quiet weekend for him that was very, very competent.
“The strategy that Racing Bulls had in the Sprint got him through on the hard tyre and he made the most of it. And again, the strategy came towards him a bit in the Grand Prix today because he started on the mediums, was kind of struggling on that, but the safety car came at the right time for him.
“But he had a lot more pace. I would say Arvid Lindblad had a tough weekend in terms of mileage and reliability. But yeah, Liam certainly made the most of it and was unlucky not to be in the top 10 probably in qualifying as well.”
READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know
Is tension starting to brew between Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad?
Naomi Schiff predicts Lawson and Lindblad to start ‘rubbing wheels’ in 2026. The pair will want to get the better of one another, especially when their F1 futures and a possible Red Bull seat are on the line.
Fans and experts got the first glimpse of that in Shanghai, as Lindblad attempted an ambitious lunge at the final hairpin of the lap.
What do you expect from Liam Lawson in the 2026 F1 season?
Lawson was annoyed over the radio as he asked his race engineer what he was doing. The New Zealander would bring his car home in the points, while Lindblad had to settle for P12.
The Racing Bulls battle will certainly be interesting in 2026, especially with the pressure that is on both Lawson and Lindblad. China was the first sign of tension, and it could well escalate as the season continues.
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