Liam Lawson again battling to make gains in F1

RNZ News

12 hours ago

Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Racing Bulls during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 27, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria.
Photo:
GUENTHER IBY
Lando Norris has led Formula 1 leader Oscar Piastri in a McLaren one-two in the second practice for the Austrian Grand Prix, after George Russell went fastest for Mercedes in the opening session.
Norris had handed his car to Alex Dunne for an impressive F1 practice debut for the Irish rookie and Formula Two leader, but the Briton was right up to speed as soon as he got back behind the wheel.
After Russell's best of one minute 05.542 seconds in the early afternoon, Norris - 22 points behind Piastri in the title battle after 10 of 24 races - lapped in 1:04.580 with Piastri 0.157 slower.
Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen, a five-times winner at his team's home circuit, was the only other driver under the five second mark with a 1:04.898.
Russell, winner from pole position in Canada two weeks ago after the McLarens collided, was sixth in practice two with Lance Stroll a surprise fourth for Aston Martin and Charles Leclerc fifth for Ferrari.
Verstappen was without regular race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase for the weekend due to personal reasons with Simon Rennie taking over.
Dunne, given track time as part of team obligations to give rookie drivers F1 experience, was the talk of the first session when he lapped fourth fastest and only 0.069 slower than Piastri.
Still only 19 and the first Irish driver in 22 years to take part in a grand prix weekend, he thanked the team over the radio as the chequered flag fell.
"A little boy's dream came true, and this is definitely the best day of my life," he said. "Thank you everyone for letting me do this, and thanks to Lando as well for trusting me with his car."
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson.
Photo:
MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand's Liam Lawson meantime, posted the 15th fastest time in the first session, and then the 12th fastest time in the second session.
Lawson's Racing Bulls boss, teamn principal Laurent Mekies, says Lawson's getting there.
"I think we now all agree that jumping into a car mid-season is going to be difficult regardless of where you are on the pit lane and I think we have to give him time to get used to the car.
"But what we see is that the speed is there. He may not yet be putting it together when it matters but we are trying everything we can to support him," Mekies said.
The final practice session is late tonight New Zealand time, with qualifying to follow early in the morning.
The race will be at 1am on Monday.
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Reuters