Lawson reveals 'biggest challenge' of Red Bull switch: The two cars are different everywhere, except the engine

The recent race at Zandvoort witnessed an unusual upheaval in the driver lineup of the Red Bull group. Isack Hadjar, the Racing Bulls driver, suffered a wrist injury, forcing the team to make an urgent personnel adjustment. Liam Lawson, who had been demoted to Racing Bulls after the Japanese Grand Prix, was called back to the main Red Bull Racing seat within days. And now, ahead of the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, the New Zealand driver has spoken candidly about the biggest challenge he faces: the near-total difference between the two cars within the same group. Lawson confirmed that preparing for both teams simultaneously is the biggest challenge. He said: "Preparing for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls is the biggest challenge of switching seats." This statement is not merely a complaint about a hectic schedule but reflects a deep technical reality: the two cars, despite sharing the same engine and belonging to the same group, operate completely differently. According to Lawson, the Red Bull RB21 and the Racing Bulls (VCARB) differ in every way, except for the power unit. He emphasized: "They're different everywhere, other than the power unit." This difference is not only about speed or downforce but also about driving feel, steering feedback, and how the car moves. "It's a very different car to drive, including the feedback through the steering and the way it moves around," Lawson explained. Notably, this difference is not only present on the actual track but also in the simulator. Lawson revealed that the two cars are "very different to drive, even in the simulator." This indicates that the difference in design philosophy between the two teams is systematic, not just a matter of race-day setup adjustments. Technically, Lawson assessed that the most impressive aspect of the Red Bull is its high-speed grip. He said: "The high-speed grip is the most impressive, and the balance of the car is very different." This is an important observation because it shows that the structural strength of the RB21 lies in its ability to generate efficient downforce at high speeds, a characteristic consistent with Max Verstappen's driving style, who has dominated high-speed circuits for years. The difference in driving feel and steering feedback suggests that the two cars have different balance philosophies. The Racing Bulls car may have a more forgiving, easier-to-drive balance at the limit, but at the cost of lower ultimate downforce. In contrast, the Red Bull RB21 is optimized for absolute performance but has a narrower operating window, requiring the driver to have a more refined sense of adaptation and feel. Lawson had an impressive return to Red Bull at Zandvoort, finishing 7th and scoring points. This is a commendable result considering he only knew for sure which car he would drive from Wednesday before the race. He shared: "I knew there was still a chance, it felt late, but there was enough time for a simulator session and normal prep." That short preparation time was filled with intense work sessions with engineers from both teams, a process Lawson called "stressful but overall a good weekend." What is particularly noteworthy is that Lawson had to prepare for both possibilities: driving for Red Bull or staying at Racing Bulls. He revealed that he "talked to both teams' engineers to stay ready for both." This professional approach demonstrates the maturity of a driver who is only 24 years old, but it also places a significant mental burden. Heading into the Monza race, Lawson will have a significant advantage compared to Zandvoort: this is a normal weekend with three free practice sessions, instead of just one as at the Zandvoort Sprint weekend. Lawson acknowledged this: "Now it should be easier to adjust, with three practice sessions and a more normal weekend." He considers this "another good opportunity" to continue showcasing his abilities. However, Monza is a completely different circuit. It is the lowest-downforce circuit on the calendar, demanding high top speed and braking stability rather than high-speed cornering grip. This may not exploit the biggest strength of the RB21 that Lawson noted. But with good aerodynamic efficiency, the car should still maintain competitive straight-line speed. The bigger issue may lie in tire management, as Monza is known for high tire degradation, especially on the front-left under heavy braking. A driver still adapting to the car's balance may struggle more with tire management than with raw lap time. This personnel shuffle also raises big questions about Red Bull's long-term strategy. This is the second time in the 2026 season that the team has had to change its driver lineup. Previously, Lawson was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda after the Japanese Grand Prix, and now Tsunoda has been demoted back to Racing Bulls to fill Lawson's spot. This constant reshuffling indicates organizational instability, and it is likely that Red Bull is using this period as an extended evaluation to decide the driver lineup for the 2026 season, when new technical regulations come into effect. For Tsunoda, being demoted to Racing Bulls for the second time in a season is a clear signal that he is no longer in Red Bull's long-term plans. This could push the Japanese driver to seek opportunities elsewhere, such as Aston Martin or Audi, in the 2026 driver market. Meanwhile, Lawson is seizing a golden opportunity to prove that he deserves a permanent seat at Red Bull in the future. Hadjar's absence due to injury has created a cascading effect: Lawson has been given a second chance at Red Bull, Tsunoda has been pushed down to Racing Bulls, and both have the opportunity to showcase themselves in a directly competitive environment. This is a reminder that in F1, an injury can quickly and unpredictably alter the driver market landscape. From a technical perspective, Lawson's comments about the differences between the two cars also raise an important question about the limits of technology transfer within the same group. Although both teams are owned by Red Bull and share technical resources, the Racing Bulls car is a completely separate design. This is partly because the junior team develops its own aerodynamic package, and partly because the cost cap limits the sharing of intellectual property between teams without counting it against the parent team's development budget. This explains why two cars, despite sharing the same design DNA, can be so different. Lawson also revealed that the differences between the two cars can be accurately reproduced in the simulator. This is a positive signal about Red Bull's engineering capability, because a simulator that accurately reproduces car-character differences is an extremely valuable development tool. It allows engineers to test changes and evaluate driver feedback without running on the actual track, saving time and costs. With a P7 result at Zandvoort, Lawson has shown that even without fully adapting to the RB21, he can still bring the car into the points. This reflects a high performance floor for Red Bull, and also demonstrates the rapid adaptability of the New Zealand driver. If he can continue to perform consistently at Monza, he is likely to become the leading candidate for a permanent Red Bull seat in the 2026 season. However, caution is needed. Monza is a unique circuit, and the result there does not necessarily reflect the true competitive order. If Lawson struggles at Monza, it could be due to the circuit characteristics not suiting his driving style or because the differences in car characteristics have not been fully resolved. But if he continues to score points, it will be a very strong signal about his capability. In the context of the highly competitive constructors' championship, Red Bull having to use a stand-in driver for multiple consecutive races could affect the final outcome. Each race where the second car does not operate at full potential is a missed opportunity in the points battle against rivals like McLaren, Ferrari, or Mercedes. However, with Verstappen still leading the drivers' championship, Red Bull may still be strong enough to maintain its position. The Monza race promises to be an interesting test for Lawson. With three practice sessions, he will have more time to familiarize himself with the RB21 and fine-tune the setups. If he can make good use of this time, a better result than P7 is entirely possible. But regardless of the outcome, what Lawson has shown at Zandvoort and his professionalism in facing the challenge of switching between two different cars has already been a big plus in the eyes of Red Bull's management. Lawson's story at Monza is not just about a young driver striving to prove his worth, but also about the technical complexity of modern F1, where even two cars within the same group can be so different that they demand a challenging adaptation process. And as Lawson said, the biggest challenge is not speed or downforce, but the difference in how the car responds and moves – a difference that can only be felt when sitting in the cockpit. This event also raises a bigger question about the future of the Racing Bulls team. If Lawson continues to perform well at Red Bull, and if Tsunoda cannot find his form again at Racing Bulls, then this junior team may become a springboard for other young talents in Red Bull's driver development system, rather than a resting place for drivers past their prime. This could lead to a major restructuring of the group's driver development program in the coming years. At Monza, all teams will face a special technical challenge. With low downforce, teams will need to find the optimal balance between top speed and braking stability. For Lawson, this means he will have to continue learning and adapting to the RB21 under completely different conditions than Zandvoort. This will be a real test of his adaptability, and also an opportunity to prove that he deserves a long-term position at the top team. Regardless of the result at Monza, one thing is certain: Liam Lawson has made the most of this rare opportunity. He has not hesitated to share his difficulties, and it is this honesty that has built trust from the team. In the harsh environment of F1 racing, honesty about technical challenges is a valuable quality, and Lawson seems to possess it naturally. With the 2026 season entering its final stretch, and with major technical regulation changes looming in 2026, what happens at Monza could have far-reaching implications for the driver market landscape in the coming years. Lawson, Tsunoda, and Hadjar – three young drivers caught in the whirlwind of personnel decisions – all understand that every race could be a turning point in their careers. And in this unforgiving race, only those who can adapt most quickly to new challenges, as Lawson is doing, can survive and thrive.