"Happy" Lawson explains why Racing Bulls is "quite different" and "easier to drive" than Red Bull

Liam Lawson has said he is feeling "happy" at the Bahrain Grand Prix as he gives an explanation as to why the Racing Bulls car is "quite different" and "easier to drive" compared to Red Bull's RB21.

The New Zealander was chosen ahead of Yuki Tsunoda for the second seat at Red Bull Racing, replacing the outgoing Sergio Perez for the 2025 season.

However, after just two Grands Prix to start the season, the Austrian team made the decision to demote Lawson back down to Racing Bulls as he struggled with the RB21, promoting Tsunoda to give him his Red Bull chance, debuting at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Lawson could only manage a DNF and a P16 in his two Red Bull starts

Lawson describes what makes the Racing Bulls car "easier to drive"

Speaking in the paddock at the Bahrain Grand Prix to several media sources, including GPblog, Lawson started by talking about the differences between Racing Bulls from 2024 to 2025.

"It's not crazy different from last year, so it was more of just an adjustment back from what I'd been driving at the start of this year. That is quite different.

"But I feel good. I think the weekend also didn't really show properly what I think we were capable of. Unfortunately, we just missed out on quali, but in general, I think I felt pretty comfortable. So, obviously, a very different track here, but at least we get to go racing again," continued the New Zealander.

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Of course, the big question is why the RB21 of Red Bull is a far more difficult car to drive compared to the VCARB 02 of Racing Bulls, as Lawson was then questioned on whether the very narrow windows of the RB21 made life more difficult compared to the wider VCARB 02.

"It's definitely a bigger window, easier to drive," continued the 23-year-old, talking about his new racing Bull car. "But that doesn't necessarily mean that the Red Bull's just undriveable – it just maybe takes a bit more time to get that sort of comfort in it.

"I think the approach and the concept from any car you drive is all the same. It just responds in a slightly different way, feels a bit different to drive."

But a change in team seems to have improved the mindset of the New Zealander.

"I thought I was pretty happy last weekend. I'm happy. I'm happy to be racing. I think the best thing about all of this is, obviously, it's been a crazy couple of weeks and months, and a lot of it has been not the most enjoyable. So the fact that I'm racing each weekend at the moment is probably the best thing for me, because it just means I can focus on driving," concluded Lawson.