Liam Lawson has driven the RB21 for the first time during Red Bill Racing's Bahrain shakedown of their 2025 car, and so far, the New Zealander's feeling good in the cockpit, which prompts him to set the bar a bit higher ahead of the 2925 F1 season start in less than three weeks' time.
In post shakedown press release publish by Red Bull, Lawson could barely hide his excitement after having completed his first meters in the 2025 car, which also happens to be his first full season in F1 with the Austrian team.
"First impressions are good, it is always exciting to get in the car for the first time. For me, I have never started a full season in Formula One, so the preparations and days like this Filming Day are good for me," said the New Zelander.
"We are also learning about a new car as well and so far the RB21 feels good; the next few days of Testing will be beneficial. I am most looking forward to just going racing, to have a full pre-season with the Team and learn along the way."
Despite being his first year as Red Bull Racing's official driver, he spent a few seasons on the sideline as the team's reserve. "This isn’t a new Team to me; I knew so many people here already and I am very excited to be working with such a talented group," he then continued, focusing on what his and the team's goals would be in 2025.
'Goal is to bring Red Bull back on the championship path'
Last year, Red Bull lost the Constructors' title to McLaren and they even fell to Ferrari finishing P3 in the standings at the flag in Abu Dhabi, mainly due to Max Verstappen fighting the rest of the teams by himself, since his then teammate, Sergio Perez, hardly contributed to the Austrian team's points tally.
Lawson doesn't want to repeate the Mexican's poor results, of course. "My target, simply, is to be fast and to be where the Team needs me to be. The goal is to regain the Constructors’ this year and if we can achieve that then it means I am doing my part. Collectively all of our goals are the same and that is to be as far up the front as we can.”
Want more Formula 1? Then follow GPblog on our various social media channels too!
X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube
Compared to the AT04 and VCARB 01 cars that he has been used to driving, obviously the new RB21 will be a huge improvement. It is whether Max will find it better than the RB20 that is more important. Its like Russell in 2022 driving the W13 for the first time and finding it a great car to drive .... after having been driving the Williams for the previous 3 years, but Hamilton found it horrendous and 'undrivable' compared to the previous Mercedes that he has been used to winning championships with.
There’s definitely like placebo effect there ? , you know you’re in top team and everything feels upgraded and better. I think it’s all about the stopwatch, last years RB had serious issues from the beginning of the season, confirmed by both drivers. But it was really fast in Max’s hands despite that.
Popular on GPBlog
Kelly Piquet shines during baby shower on Max Verstappen's brand new yacht
Verstappen on top, McLaren a flop: These are the winners and losers from the Japanese Grand Prix
Tsunoda's 'supportive' discovery after his first Red Bull weekend revealed
