Lawson 'excited to be back in my car' for Azerbaijan GP

Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has a seat fit in the garage during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan at Baku City Circuit on September 23, 2026.

Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson is "excited" to be "back in my car" ahead of this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Lawson is back behind the wheel of a Racing Bulls car for the street race in Baku, following a successful stint as a super-sub for an injured Isack Hadjar with the senior Red Bull team – scoring 14 points in three races.

Ahead of the first practice session, Lawson said he was excited to continue developing at Racing Bulls, despite spending nearly a month in a different car.

"The Red Bull was very, very different to drive. I think each weekend I got more comfortable, but by the end of it it's not like I'm fully adapted to that car."

"I think it's challenging in that way, but I don't feel it's been long enough to really have lost anything."

Liam Lawson driving the (30) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB22 Red Bull Ford Powertrains drives on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Madring.

Lawson said he had started preparing to race for either car, with things becoming "simple" when it was clear Hadjar would be ready to make his return.

"It was a really busy few weeks over that time," he said.

Before his stint at Red Bull, Lawson was consistently bringing in good results for Racing Bulls. He said he was "excited" to get back to it.

"As much as it was a great opportunity, and it was great that I was able to keep scoring points... I was disconnected from that sort of VCARB challenge that we've been focused on. So yeah, it's good to be back into that.

Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad

"You like your own car, honestly. So it's a good feeling to be back in my car."

The Baku City Circuit is where Lawson put in one of his best efforts during the 2025 season – qualifying third and finishing fifth.

"This year it's completely different," Lawson said. "With these cars, it's going to be challenging."

Lawson currently sits ninth in the drivers' championship standings with 59 points.

The first practice session will be at 10.30pm tonight (NZT), with qualifying at 12am Saturday and the race at 11pm the same day.

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