Permane on Lawson: 'There's some genius there'
Racing Bulls' Alan Permane hails Liam Lawson's "genius" talent. A key technical breakthrough after a slow start has unlocked his potential, setting the stage for a stable 2026 season.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane is convinced that Liam Lawson possesses "genius"-level raw talent, believing his recent breakthrough marks the beginning of a significant rise. After a difficult start to the 2025 season, a collaborative effort to fine-tune the car's setup unlocked Lawson's performance, leading to a string of strong results. Permane now sees stability as the final ingredient needed for Lawson to showcase his true potential consistently.
Why it matters:
Lawson's development is a key storyline within the Red Bull family, which is constantly evaluating its future talent. A driver finally unlocking his potential after a turbulent period demonstrates the critical link between a driver's feel and a team's technical ability to adapt. For Racing Bulls, transforming a promising but inconsistent driver into a reliable points-scorer is crucial for their competitive ambitions in the midfield battle.
The details:
- Lawson's 2025 season began with challenges, including adapting to a demanding Red Bull car before switching back to Racing Bulls with a new engineering team.
- The turning point came from detailed simulator work with his race engineer, focusing on front suspension and steering geometries to improve his comfort with the car.
- A specific setup change, first tried in Monaco and perfected for Austria, made a significant difference, leading to a P6 finish and a surge in confidence.
- Permane specifically cites Lawson's composure in difficult qualifying conditions, like the damp sessions in Las Vegas and on a slippery Baku track, as clear evidence of his high-level talent.
What's next:
Confirmed for a 2026 seat at Racing Bulls, Lawson will have the stability he has previously lacked. The primary challenge for both driver and team is to harness the "genius" moments and make them the new standard, rather than the exception. The focus will be on building on the late-season momentum to deliver consistent, high-level performances from the very first race of next season.