Liam Lawson lifts the lid on the ‘very different’ work he has done for 2026 with Racing Bulls

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Liam Lawson enters the 2026 Formula 1 campaign knowing that he must register a strong performance to extend his career.

Working on one-year contracts is no secure place to be for a racing driver, and the Kiwi has already proven that at times, he can be the perfect candidate.

It’s all about finding that consistency now, and Lawson has to achieve that while also figuring out how to tackle a new generation of cars.

Racing Bulls aren’t exactly renowned for their fast starts after big rule changes, but they’re also never at the back of the grid. They should be able to challenge for points at most races.

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Lawson ‘gained confidence’ fighting Max Verstappen at last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix, and it almost proved to himself that he could do it.

Looking ahead, Lawson sees a big positive from 2026 and believes that the engines will now allow drivers to make a bigger impact.

READ MORE: Liam Lawson shares what he’s ‘more aware’ of than ever after eye-opening 2025 F1 season

Liam Lawson hints that the 2026 F1 cars are ‘very different’ after Racing Bulls work

Peter Bayer has urged Lawson to improve his ‘qualifying pace’ over the next 12 months, if he wants to be extracting some better results on a Sunday.

At the age of 23, he still deserves plenty of time to learn before being kicked to the kerb like many other Red Bull stars.

There’s even a chance that Lawson could ‘put pressure’ on Isack Hadjar at Red Bull, depending on how the Frenchman fares in his first campaign there.

Speaking about the 2026 F1 regulations, the Racing Bulls star has revealed how vastly different they are from what he’s faced before.

“I haven’t driven the car actually in person yet,” he told Speedcafe. “So far, it’s just been simulator work that I’ve done, and it’s very, very different.

“So without sharing too much, it’s going to be a very different spectacle, I think, for fans to watch.”

READ MORE: Guenther Steiner grades Liam Lawson’s 2025 season and compares him to one of his former drivers

Why Liam Lawson could benefit even more from a second season at Racing Bulls in 2026

The value of being at the same team for two years in a row cannot be underestimated in the modern era. Things can change so much in a short span of time for drivers who are transferred.

There is going to be a strong level of familiarity for Lawson this year, which will help him build his consistency and confidence.

Getting off to a much faster start than he made in 2026 will also give him a boost, considering that he started 2025 in the worst fashion possible, by losing his Red Bull seat after just two races.

This time round, things are different, though. He’s had a 24-race campaign and winter to reflect, and should be ready to tackle the challenges of his second full-time season soon.