Racing Bulls Reveal Crucial Liam Lawson Change Fueling Hungary Surge

Liam Lawson sets top-10 pace through both Friday sessions at the Hungarian Grand Prix, signalling a meaningful step for Racing Bulls as setup work sharpens the car’s balance.

Alan Permane credits a targeted setup change for improved rear-end stability in FP2. Lawson finishes seventh after concentrating on soft-tyre runs, consolidating a productive day for the team.

The gap to teammate Isack Hadjar stands at two-tenths, while Lawson edges Oscar Piastri, whose FP2 is compromised by traffic and execution, masking McLaren’s representative pace.

Rookie Arvid Lindblad also places inside the top 10 in both sessions, underlining consistency across the garage and strengthening the pairing’s case amid ongoing Racing Bulls seat discussions this summer.

Permane describes the day as not straightforward. The crew makes more inter-session changes than usual as they chase a more compliant rear and predictable rotation for the medium-speed profile.

Hungaroring’s short lap punishes instability, especially into Sector 3. A late adjustment before Lawson’s final soft run improves rear grip on entry and traction on exit, immediately trimming lap time. That underpins the team’s promising pace narrative into qualifying.

Benchmarking remains tricky given programme differences and evolving track temperatures. Permane says the car looks in decent shape, but further refinement in FP3 will target balance through the final sector.

Lawson describes the Hungaroring as demanding yet rewarding. He plans overnight changes aimed at securing Q3, confident the direction suits both tyre preparation and the car’s operating window.

Track position matters in Budapest, so a solid qualifying return could convert practice speed into points. Recent analysis of Lawson’s deficits, explored in team briefings, frames Saturday’s priorities.

If the gains hold and execution is clean, Racing Bulls can sustain midfield competitiveness. That leaves Lawson and Lindblad positioned to capitalise as the 2026 campaign intensifies.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.