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Liam Lawson details team-mate priority in new Racing Bulls partnership
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Liam Lawson details team-mate priority in new Racing Bulls partnership

Liam Lawson has insisted maintaining a strong communication link with new team-mate Arvid Linbdlad will be key to Racing Bulls' season. Lindblad has received a promotion to F1 this year and will be the sport's only rookie driver for the upcoming season. He joins Lawson at the Red Bull sister team, who got their campaign up and running at the Barcelona shakedown this week. Given he is the more experienced driver in the line-up, Lawson will be leaned on more to steer the direction of car development, which is likely to prove crucial this year as F1 enters a new cycle of technical regulations. When asked to assess his relationship with Lindblad, Lawson said: “So far it has been good. “It’s a very different year to come into F1 with these cars. “So obviously for us, it's important to communicate well and work together on trying to build this car as quick as possible. So far, it’s been good.” Racing Bulls did not take to the track on Friday as it completed its three days of running prior to the final day of action. Next up for the team is pre-season testing in Bahrain in just under two weeks' time. Describing what will be on the team's agenda, Lawson said: “Honestly, just to keep learning. “It’s so early days at the moment, we're going to go to Bahrain on a very different track with very different climate as well. “It’s gonna be very, very different. It's going be great for us to learn how the car performs at very different places, different tracks. “Outside of that, the main goal is to just try and keep learning and improving the car and discovering what we can.”

Liam Lawson addresses huge F1 change: 'I haven't got my head around it'
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Liam Lawson addresses huge F1 change: 'I haven't got my head around it'

Liam Lawson has addressed the scale of Formula 1’s regulation changes, noting after his first day of track action in Barcelona that he still has not got his “head around it”. The New Zealander drove for the entirety of the opening day of the five-day test in Barcelona and gathered valuable data, despite causing a red flag before lunch as a safety precaution. It represented Racing Bulls’ first official full day on track with its new car, having completed a shakedown at Imola ahead of the first 2026 pre-season test. For Lawson, it offered a chance to begin understanding how to operate all the new systems as part of the new power unit regulations, with DRS no longer featuring in F1. Understanding the new systems is a huge task for all drivers, although Lawson believes it has increased the difference a driver can make — something he views as a positive. Ultimately, the 23-year-old completed 88 laps, gathering valuable information for Racing Bulls and Red Bull Powertrains. Asked how different the new car felt to the previous regulations, Lawson told F1TV : "Yeah, they’re very, very different, and I definitely haven’t got my head around it fully yet. "It’s something we’ll keep learning over the next few days and weeks, when we go to Bahrain as well. But yeah, it’s very, very different. "It feels like there’s a lot more we can do as drivers, potentially, to make a difference, which is good. "But right now it’s very early days, so it’s very hard to know where we are. For now, we’re just trying to learn how to optimise the car."

Liam Lawson hands Red Bull major boost after promising opening day
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Liam Lawson hands Red Bull major boost after promising opening day

Liam Lawson has handed Red Bull a major boost following the opening day of the official shakedown test in Barcelona, revealing that its power unit felt "very good". The New Zealander spent the entire opening day of the five-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya behind the wheel of Racing Bulls' VCARB 03. Lawson clocked 132 laps across the day, with a best lap time of 1m 21.513, gathering valuable data for Red Bull's sister team. The data was also useful for Red Bull itself, with Racing Bulls being powered this season by the Milton Keynes-based operation. Unfortunately, the 23-year-old did cause a red flag towards the end of the morning session; however, he has insisted that the stoppage was purely a "safety precaution" rather than a problem with the car. It is a season of great unknowns for Racing Bulls, given that it is being powered by Red Bull, which has no previous experience of being an F1 engine manufacturer. Based on the opening day of running, though, it is so far, so good for both Racing Bulls and Red Bull's engine. Asked how the Red Bull power unit felt, Lawson told F1TV : I mean, it feels good, honestly, so far today. But it's very hard to tell. So the main thing is reliability.  "At the moment, we've done a good amount of laps today, only a few little things [went wrong]. And honestly, the only issues we really had today were safety precautions, not really any actual issues.  "So yeah, so far, honestly, on the power unit side, has been very, very good. But again, hard to know compared to everybody else where we're at, but definitely we'll keep learning over the next few days."

The new F1 dictionary for 2026
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The new F1 dictionary for 2026

With the start of the 2026 season, drivers, teams and fans will have to deal with a completely new vocabulary of buttons, systems and regulations. From "Overtake" to active aerodynamics, from Audi's entry to the compression ratio controversy, the sport is evolving into a new era.  Here are the key terms for the coming years. Overtake The well-known DRS system will be replaced by Overtake Mode in 2026. Unlike the opening rear wing, which offered an aerodynamic advantage, Overtake Mode provides additional electrical power.  The system can be activated when a driver is within one second of the car ahead, similar to how DRS was allowed to be activated. There is one detection point per circuit. With Overtake Mode, the attacking driver can charge an additional 0.5 megajoules and use it the next lap to attempt an overtake.  This means that the attacking driver has both more total energy available and access to full power at higher speeds than the car in front of him. A significant advantage to enable overtaking manoeuvres. Boost In addition to Overtake Mode, drivers will also have a separate Boost Mode at their disposal, a system that operates completely independently of proximity to rivals.  Boost is a button on the steering wheel that delivers the maximum combined power from both the combustion engine and the battery, as long as electrical power is available.  As opposed to Overtake Mode, drivers can use this system anywhere on the track, both for attack and defence. The strategic element is in the timing.  Drivers can decide to deploy the boost all at once for powerful acceleration, or spread the extra energy over several moments in the lap, depending on when they need the extra performance most. This flexibility makes the boost button one of the most versatile tactical tools in the new F1 arsenal. Recharge Drivers can then recharge the battery with Recharge Mode. When the mode is enabled, the battery recharges by the energy released under braking.  This creates an intense task in the cockpit. Drivers must constantly switch between power input, aerodynamic modes and energy from the battery. It becomes a constant dialogue between driver and team via the onboard radio. In early simulations, the battery would be depleted so early on a straight that a driver would have to downshift, but that is not expected to happen. However, speed can be reduced on straights. Straight and Corner Mode In addition to changes to the engine, 2026 also marks the end of the ground-effect era that began in 2022.  The real revolution, however, is in active aerodynamics. Both the front and rear wings get adjustable flaps that can operate in two different positions, available to all drivers on designated straights. In Straight Mode, the front and rear wings are flatter to reduce drag in predetermined activation zones.  This lowers downforce and improves top speed. In Corner Mode, the wings remain in their standard closed position to maintain the higher downforce needed for cornering grip. For wet conditions, there is a partial aero option where the front wing can be in Straight Mode while the rear wing remains in Corner Mode for the needed downforce. The text continues below the image. Compression Ratio While the visible changes draw attention, behind the scenes a technical controversy rages over engine compression ratios.  The 2026 regulations limit the geometric compression ratio to 16:1 from 18:1 in 2025. This reduction was implemented to help new engine manufacturers and align with the transition to sustainable fuels. The critical point: compression ratio is measured statically, not while racing. This measurement approach has generated considerable controversy.  Namely, Mercedes could still reach 18:1 if used without violating regulations. That could yield three to four tenths on a circuit like Australia. So this term will come up often, as other engine suppliers are not happy with it. Ferrari, Audi and Honda are said to have protested to the FIA. So this topic will no doubt be continued... Audi & Cadillac About Audi, that brand will enter F1 as a factory team in 2026 after taking over from Sauber. The team will operate from Sauber's existing headquarters in Hinwil, Switzerland, while Audi has set up a powertrain production site in Neuberg, Germany.  Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto form the driver duo, with Jonathan Wheatley as team principal. Cadillac forms the other, all-new eleventh team. The Cadillac Formula 1 Team, backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports, received final approval in March 2025 and becomes the first new team since Haas in 2016. The team is led by Graeme Lowdon as team boss and will initially use Ferrari engines while General Motors builds an engine for 2029.  Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez should help Cadillac advance with their experience. Red Bull Powertrains Red Bull Racing is also taking a huge step forward with Red Bull Powertrains, its own power unit to be used from 2026.  Red Bull Powertrains is developing a V6 turbo hybrid powertrain in collaboration with Ford. This is a huge project, with about 700 people contributing to it in Milton Keynes. The question is how competitive Red Bull and sister team Racing Bulls will be, though. They have never driven its own engines before.  Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar should help the team in its biggest challenge to date in the coming years. Arvid Lindblad In the midst of all this technical complexity, there is one driver who is experiencing it all for the first time: Arvid Lindblad, the only rookie on the 2026 grid. The 18-year-old British driver drives for Racing Bulls alongside Liam Lawson. Lindblad earned his seat after just one season in Formula 2, where he finished sixth in the championship with three race wins.  His path to F1 was accelerated by two appearances for Red Bull in 2025 at Silverstone and in Mexico City, where he impressed the team management enough to secure his Racing Bulls seat. Early competitiveness will be challenging, especially since the 2026 season features completely new technical regulations and engines that even experienced drivers will have to get used to. Spanish Grand Prix And as if all these technical changes were not enough, the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix will be held at the Madring for the first time.  This is a street circuit near Madrid, near the IFEMA Exhibition Centre. The circuit covers 5.47 kilometres with 22 corners, including a remarkably long sloping corner, the longest sloping corner on the F1 calendar. The Spanish Grand Prix will take place on Sept. 13 and is the sixteenth round of the season. The European season will officially conclude at the Madring.

Liam Lawson 'psychological effect' key to Red Bull F1 plan
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Liam Lawson 'psychological effect' key to Red Bull F1 plan

Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has explained how the team is aiding the mental well-being of its employees, in part due to his experience with Liam Lawson.  Lawson was promoted to the senior Red Bull team for 2025, but after just two races, was demoted back to Racing Bulls, then under Mekies' control, with the Frenchman heavily involved in aiding Lawson to rebuild his confidence, with the New Zealander then aiding Racing Bulls to clinch sixth in the constructors'. In the past, drivers have struggled mentally with their demotion from the senior Red Bull team, with Daniil Kvyat particularly broken in 2016, with the low point coming in a particularly galling interview at the German GP.  However, Mekies has explained how the Red Bull under his command is trying to build a supportive culture, and not just for the drivers, but also the team members. "We are well aware that the psychological effect is huge, but not just for that situation as well," Mekies explained at the Autosport Business Exchange when questioned about how he handled Lawson's return to Racing Bulls. "For any high-level athlete, that last bit of performance is intimately linked to how you feel, how you're supported and what is in your mind.  "So we are trying to support both our drivers with the best environment possible for them to express their talent, but it is the same spirit as for any of our employees.  "In the same way you need to create the environment for your drivers to express themselves and go fast, you need to create an environment for your engineers, mechanics and staff to express their potential. "Red Bull's spirit is reducing the noise, focusing on pure racing and joy, and we have a saying from Red Bull, which is, 'happy? Absolutely. Satisfied? Absolutely not." "That is how we take all the good and bad [things] which are coming our way."

Liam Lawson handed clear Racing Bulls instructions: 'I have asked him'
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Liam Lawson handed clear Racing Bulls instructions: 'I have asked him'

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has outlined clear instructions for Liam Lawson this year and has "asked him" to keep a lookout for team-mate Arvid Lindblad. Lindblad is the sole rookie on the 2026 F1 grid and, at just 18 years old, is set to become one of the youngest drivers in the history of the sport. As a result, Lawson will become the Red Bull sister team’s lead driver as he prepares for his second full-time campaign. Following his return to Racing Bulls after two races at the start of 2025 alongside Max Verstappen, Lawson took time to rediscover his form. However, in the second half of the season, the New Zealander delivered excellent performances in Azerbaijan and Las Vegas, proving to Permane the talent he possesses. In addition to supporting Lindblad, Permane’s instruction to Lawson for the upcoming season is to understand why certain things happen, rather than being unsure of the reasons behind, for example, an early elimination in qualifying. Discussing Lawson becoming the team leader, Permane told talkSPORT : "Yeah, he’s the senior member, with kind of one season under his belt, you know? So, again, it’s a big ask for him. I have asked him, and I will be asking him, to be there to help Arvid as needed. "Now, that doesn’t mean to baby him or mother him, or that sort of thing, but just when things are tricky, to maybe put an arm around him to help him there.  "But Liam’s also got himself to focus on—don’t forget—so he will be working hard to do a good job, to replicate the very good performances we saw from him last year: Baku, qualifying third; in Vegas, qualifying sixth; some really exceptional races as well. "And what I really want him to do is eliminate the not-so-good stuff. So the times when he comes back after Q1 and he’s gone out and says, ‘I don’t know what happened there’—that’s what he needs to eradicate. And honestly, if he can keep at the good level we know he can reach, he’ll be a very good Formula 1 driver."

Arvid Lindblad spins into Imola gravel on Racing Bulls debut
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Arvid Lindblad spins into Imola gravel on Racing Bulls debut

Arvid Lindblad suffered an inauspicious start to his F1 career by spinning Racing Bulls' new VCARB03 into a gravel trap at Imola. Liam Lawson had earlier been given the honour of conducting the first shakedown lap of the new Red Bulls Powertrain machinery, albeit in damp conditions at the circuit situated just 15km from the team's Faenza headquarters. On a demo day, when a team can conduct no more than 15 kilometres of track running, in this case just three laps of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, Lawson completed the installation lap with seemingly no issues. When British rookie Lindblad took over at the wheel of the new car in the early afternoon, it proved to be a shortlived run as in the wet conditions he spun off at the Variante Villenueve [Turns 5-6] and into the gravel. A video on X below shows the VCARB03 being transported back to the garage on the back of a flat-bed truck. Lawson and Lindblad will return to the Imola circuit tomorrow [Wed] to conduct a more thorough 200km filming day shakedown of the car. View footage of Lindblad's car on a trailer below! 2013608546735104361 #ArvidLindblad ’s car after he spun at Variante Villeneuve earlier today. #F1 #VCARB #test #Imola pic.twitter.com/RBpD78r5VH — Jacopo Rava (@JacopoRava04) January 20, 2026