Purple Bull’s Method 1 boss Laurent Mekies was impressed by its super-sub Liam Lawson after he maximised what was potential on the Dutch Grand Prix.
The 24-year-old completed seventh behind the highest three groups – McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari – after beginning eighth however gaining a spot because of Max Verstappen’s crash within the sister RB22.
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It got here after a harder dash race the place Lawson began and completed in eleventh, on the weekend he briefly moved from Racing Bulls to Purple Bull because of Isack Hadjar’s wrist harm.
Mekies advised Sky Sports activities: “It is so troublesome these days to leap from a crew to a different, so I believe Liam did what he may.
“He clearly did an excellent job in qualifying yesterday being solely a tenth away from Max, immediately was a little bit of a race on his personal.
“We’re lacking the reference from Max so, you already know, no judgment on the tempo however he took the factors, he took the factors of seventh place and that is most likely the very best he may have accomplished immediately.”
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Lawson’s consequence got here regardless of him receiving a 10-second penalty for failing to decelerate for a single yellow flag at Flip 3 on lap 55, after Esteban Ocon had stopped on the following nook.
The New Zealander confirmed he’ll “be taught from that”, however contemplating he completed a lap forward of eighth-placed Nico Hulkenberg, it made little distinction to his race at Zandvoort on Sunday.
“Immediately was arduous, actually,” Lawson, who’s ninth within the championship, advised Sky Sports activities.
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“The primary lap was fairly enjoyable, however from then, actually, we simply struggled for tempo to match the entrance guys.
“However I really feel like after yesterday I knew it was going to be a tough race, we have been each behind them and I really feel like I did a fairly good lap yesterday, so I knew it was gonna be arduous.
“In all probability not that onerous, like we actually struggled to maintain up with the entrance groups, however I am certain there’s stuff I can be taught from. I will clearly attempt to have an understanding after the weekend.”
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Zandvoort was Lawson’s first race for Purple Bull since his two disappointing outings at first of 2025, and it isn’t but clear if he’ll return to sister squad Racing Bulls for Monza up subsequent.
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