Lawson says Racing Bulls' early form fuels optimism for upgrade race

Liam Lawson says the Racing Bulls' strong start to the 2024 season has him genuinely excited about the team's upgrade potential. A ninth‑place finish in Japan and points in the Chinese sprint have left the New Zealander sitting tenth in the championship, ahead of rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad and Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar.

Why it matters

Lawson’s optimism signals a possible shift in the midfield battle. If Racing Bulls can turn early pace into consistent points, they’ll not only climb the constructor’s table but also force rivals to accelerate their own development cycles. In a sport where a single upgrade can swing performance by tenths of a second, a team that extracts the maximum from its current package early in the year gains a strategic advantage for the rest of the season.

The details

• Recent results: 9th place at the Japanese Grand Prix; points scored in both the sprint and main race in Shanghai.
• Championship standing: 10th after three rounds, ahead of teammate Arvid Lindblad (11th) and Isack Hadjar (12th).
• Early‑season pace: Lawson highlighted the speed the car showed in Melbourne, noting that even with a safety‑car interruption in China the team still finished in the points.
• Upgrade outlook: Lawson believes the car’s current performance “gives us a great position” to develop upgrades, describing the situation as “positive and exciting.”
• Midfield context: Consistent points finishes could tighten the gap between Racing Bulls and other midfield contenders such as Alpine and McLaren.

What's next

Lawson returns to the cockpit for the fourth round at the Miami International Autodrome in early May. The team will use the break to analyze data from the first three races and begin work on the next aerodynamic package. If the upgrades deliver the expected gains, Racing Bulls could become a regular points‑scoring threat and shake up the midfield hierarchy for the remainder of the season.