Lawson: True F1 pecking order will be revealed in Australia
Liam Lawson believes the actual hierarchy of the 2025 F1 field will only be revealed at the Australian GP, after a pre-season test dominated by reliability work and adapting to challenging new cars. The Racing Bulls driver notes his team is in a tight midfield pack, but true performance remains unknown until race conditions.
Liam Lawson says the true competitive order of the 2025 Formula 1 grid will only become clear at the Australian Grand Prix, following a pre-season test focused on reliability and adapting to the new generation of cars. The Racing Bulls driver completed 488 laps across testing, placing his team in a tight midfield battle, but emphasized that performance remains a mystery until the first race weekend.
Why it matters:
Pre-season testing times are notoriously deceptive, with teams running different fuel loads, engine modes, and programs. Lawson's comments underscore that the first genuine competitive benchmark arrives not in Bahrain, but at the demanding Albert Park circuit. For midfield teams like Racing Bulls, Haas, and Alpine, the opening races are critical for understanding their development trajectory and securing crucial early-season points.
The Details:
- Lawson described driving the new-spec cars as a "big challenge," with teams prioritizing the completion of run plans and reliability checks over outright performance.
- The Racing Bulls team appears to be in a congested midfield, positioned clear of the backmarkers but in a close fight with Haas and Alpine, and just ahead of Williams.
- Reliability Focus: The driver identified finishing races as the primary objective for the early season, highlighting the complexity of the new machinery.
- Testing Milestones: He framed simply completing a scheduled run plan during testing as a significant achievement given the technical hurdles presented by the new regulations.
What's next:
All theories and testing data will be put to the test at the Australian Grand Prix. The unique street circuit characteristics and the pressure of a full race weekend will provide the first transparent look at each car's performance and reliability under genuine competitive conditions. For Lawson and Racing Bulls, Melbourne will answer the critical question of whether their solid testing foundation translates into points-scoring potential.