F1: Liam Lawson had 'near-perfect race' - Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane
Photo:
ANTONIN VINCENT / AFP
Liam Lawson is back in the points with a drive that impressed his new team principal.
Lawson
finished eighth in the Belgian Grand Prix
to pick up points for the third time this season.
The 23-year-old started ninth on the grid in a race that began behind a safety car because of rain at Spa-Francorchamps.
He was able to overtake Racing Bulls team-mate Isack Hadjar on lap 12 and got priority in the pits to change tyres as the track dried.
"Liam had a near-perfect race," said Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane.
"He managed his tyres exceptionally well, both on the intermediates and on the dry tyres.
"He was strong and able to comfortably pull away from [Kick Sauber driver] Bortoleto behind and was very happy with the car overall."
Lawson is now 14th in the Drivers' Championship with 16 points.
"I really enjoyed today," he said afterwards. "Often in those conditions you just want to survive, so I'm very happy for the team and how everything came together.
"It's always tricky when you cross over to a dry tyre when it's damp, but the car was fast and in clean air we had great pace."
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls.
Photo:
FLORENT GOODEN / PHOTOSPORT
Oscar Piastri beat McLaren teammate Lando Norris to win his sixth race of the season and extend his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 16 points.
The Hungarian Grand Prix is next weekend before a four-week break.
Racing Bulls remains seventh in the Constructors' Championship, but are now just two points behind Kick Sauber and five ahead of Aston Martin.
Permane, who took over from Laurent Mekies after he was promoted to Red Bull, admits they don't have much time to prepare for round 14.
"There are only a few days to reflect on this race as we're quickly onto Budapest with a very different track and a very different downforce level," Permane said.
"It'll be much hotter and we've got different tyres, but we expect our car to perform well there, and we will have our usual target of getting both our cars into Q3 and in the points."
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Liam Lawson's eighth place finish in the Belgian Grand Prix received a glowing review from his new boss. 'Liam had a near-perfect race,' said Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane. 'He was strong and able to comfortably pull away from [Kick Sauber's] Bortoleto behind and was very happy with the car overall.' Wet conditions at Spa-Francorchamps saw drivers begin the race behind a safety car, with the 23-year-old starting at ninth on the grid behind teammate Isack Hadjar. Lawson overtook his fellow Racing Bulls driver on lap 12, allowing him to swap from wet to dry tyres a lap earlier than Hadjar. ADVERTISEMENT 'It's always tricky when you cross over to a dry tyre when it's damp, but the car was fast and in clean air we had great pace,' said Lawson. 'Often in those conditions you just want to survive, so I'm very happy for the team and how everything came together.' Lawson successfully pulled off a one-pit stop strategy on his way to securing points. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including wintry blast on the way, Gloriavale leader in court, and Liam Lawson picks up points. (Source: Breakfast) His teammate Hadjar dropped to the bottom of the pack after technical issues forced a lack of pace and a second pit stop. McLaren topped the table with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris taking out first and second respectively. Lawson achieved his third points finish of the 2025 season and plans to keep his foot on the gas at next week's race in Hungary, ahead of a month-long break. ADVERTISEMENT 'Now we need to keep the momentum rolling forward and make sure we enter the summer break on a high,' said Lawson. Permane also expressed optimism about the upcoming race. 'It'll be much hotter, and we've got different tyres, but we expect our car to perform well there,' he said.
