Source: Radio New Zealand
Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson of Visa Cash App Racing Bulls during F1 testing in Bahrain, 2026. MARCEL VAN DORST / AFP
Liam Lawson got through 50 laps in the morning session on day two of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Bahrain admitting they had a few issues.
The 24 year old spent much of the session sporting an aero rack on his new 2026 Racing Bulls car.
He recorded a best time that was 3.7 seconds slower than Charles Leclerc, who was the quickest in the session in his Ferrari.
Lawson spent his first session in data gathering mode for the team with the aero rack placed in front of the rear wing collecting information on air flow.
The information can be used for the front wing set-up and also for future car upgrades.
“We had a few little issues today that stopped a bit of running so early days. We’re learning as fast as we can, it’s obviously all very new,” Lawson said.
There are significant changes in 2026 with the cars smaller and lighter and no longer running DRS while half of their power is now electrically generated.
“It’s very new, it’s very different, a different driving style and it is more sensitive so we have to be a lot more aware behind the wheel.
“It is definitely something I haven’t mastered yet so we’ll spend the next few weeks trying to be as prepared for Melbourne as we can.”
Lawson will spend all day in the car on Friday with another test session again in Bahrain next week.
“Coming into the test we know to try not to be frustrated when we have these small things that stop runs, but the main thing is to try and put the car in a good place today and we have tomorrow to learn a lot more.
“Next week is probably when we spend a lot more time on performance rather than anything else.”
Lawson’s new team-mate Arvid Lindblad drove the car in the afternoon session and got through another 82 laps and went slightly faster than Lawson.
Leclerc completed 139 laps with the fastest time ahead of world champion Lando Norris in a McLaren and Oliver Bearman in a Haas.
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri were among the seven drivers who didn’t take part in testing today.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
