Lawson says preparing for two teams was his biggest challenge before Monza

Liam Lawson entered the Italian Grand Prix weekend unsure which of two very different Formula One cars he would drive. That uncertainty forced him to prepare with both Red Bull and Racing Bulls at the same time.

Red Bull ended the New Zealander’s predicament on Wednesday by confirming that he would race for the team at Monza for a second consecutive weekend. Lawson is standing in for injured French driver Isack Hadjar, while Yuki Tsunoda took Lawson’s place at Racing Bulls.

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Been doing both, just to try and stay ready for both. Obviously, both teams, both cars to know.

“Been doing both, just to try and stay ready for both. Obviously, both teams, both cars to know,” Lawson said when asked which engineers he had been working with since replacing Hadjar at last month’s Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort. “They are very different (cars) to drive, so it’s not the easiest thing going between the two, even just in the simulator. But, yeah, that’s been the biggest challenge. It’s nice to finally have an answer, from Wednesday, to know that I can basically just put all my focus onto this car.”

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They are very different (cars) to drive, so it’s not the easiest thing going between the two, even just in the simulator. But, yeah, that’s been the biggest challenge. It’s nice to finally have an answer, from Wednesday, to know that I can basically just put all my focus onto this car.

Lawson finished seventh in the main race at Zandvoort after Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen crashed on the opening lap. Although the two cars use the same Red Bull power unit, Lawson said their driving characteristics differed sharply.

“The way they drive, the balance of the car is very, very different. So without saying too much it is a very different car to drive. The feedback I get through the steering, everything, the way it feels, the way it moves around, it’s very different,” he said. Verstappen, who felt unwell during his home race but has since said he is fit, won at Monza last year. Red Bull currently sits fourth in the standings.

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The way they drive, the balance of the car is very, very different. So without saying too much it is a very different car to drive. The feedback I get through the steering, everything, the way it feels, the way it moves around, it’s very different.