Liam Lawson Confirms Racing Bulls Making 'Big Gains' in 2026 Shakedown

Liam Lawson confirmed Racing Bulls is making significant progress with its 2026 car during the Barcelona shakedown, but cautioned that the true competitive order remains a complete unknown as every team develops in parallel. The team completed a reliable and productive test, ticking a crucial early box for the new regulatory era.

Why it matters:

For a team like Racing Bulls, establishing a solid foundation of reliability and understanding with a brand-new car under radically different regulations is the first critical step. Early positive signs in testing, especially regarding mileage and driver feedback, are essential for building momentum before the competitive picture becomes clear in Bahrain.

The details:

• Lawson completed 88 laps on the first day of the closed-doors test, with rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad logging 120 laps on day three.
• The team emphasized reliability as a key success metric, with Lawson stating that running the desired lap count was a primary goal met.
• Lawson acknowledged the unique challenge of the 2026 cars, noting the VCARB 03 is in a "much better place" at the end of the test than at the start.
• The driver pairing of Lawson and Lindblad is focused on clear communication and collaboration to develop the car as quickly as possible, a vital dynamic for a team with a rookie driver.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the vastly different conditions of the official pre-season tests in Bahrain.

• Lawson highlighted that the different track layout and climate will provide a crucial new set of data on the car's performance.
• The team's immediate goal remains consistent: continuous learning and improvement, as the pecking order is expected to stay unclear for some time.
• The Bahrain tests will offer the first genuine, albeit still disguised, glimpse of where each team stands relative to its rivals.