Kiwi Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson is improving despite what the time sheet shows. Photo: Xavi Bonilla
Analysis - The final result may not show it, but Liam Lawson probably had his best race of the Formula One season in Bahrain.
Following the chequered flag Liam Lawson officially finished 16th after starting 17th on the grid.
However, the result doesn't tell the entire story as the young Kiwi showed progress from the frustrating and disappointing start he made in 2024.
Lawson struggled in the first two races with Red Bull and was in a similar situation in his first drive back with Racing Bulls in Japan last week.
He had technical issues in qualifying in Bahrain which again forced the team to put him on a different strategy to his team mate Isack Hadjar, starting on different tyres and being forced to race longer before his first pit stop.
In the end it helped him as a late safety car enabled him to improve during a mass pit stop.
However, more importantly he showed the pace and aggression that had been missing so far this year.
Liam Lawson driving the (30) Visa Cash App Racing Bulls VCARB 02 on track during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain. Photo: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Lawson was able to improve to 13th late in the game and if it wasn't for a 10 second penalty was heading for an admirable result.
He was at fault for causing a clash with another car, but it was that "elbows out" style of driving that attracted Red Bull to him late last year.
Lawson did have a number of things go his way in Bahrain, but that showed how much the driver, car and team need to be in synch to perform.
"We had good speed but just couldn't really use it and the only way I could overtake was lunging quite late," Lawson said afterward.
'It's a shame we don't have the results to show us pushing forwards as a team, as the car was really fast in qualifying and we didn't get to show it.
"The car was also fast in the race, but there's obviously only so much you can do starting from the back. It was just a race that just didn't quite come together."
Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar Photo: Eric Alonso
However, in my opinion, the missing part in the equation is the Racing Bulls car.
The team finished eighth out of 10 teams in the 2024 Constructors Championship and already in 2025 the signs are that they'll again be battling in the bottom three.
Williams, Haas and Alpine all appear to have made significant strides this year which leaves Racing Bulls battling to avoid the wooden spoon.
Racing Bulls team principal Laurent Mekies admits the car wasn't at it's best in Bahrain.
"We are going to tackle this as a team to see how we can improve our package for these types of conditions and concentrate on how we can come back stronger for next time."
Mekies was positive about Lawson's drive.
"It may not have showed on the time sheet, but he made a very significant step forward compared to Japan.
"The pace is there, building up step by step. We look forward to being able to piece it all together as we go racing again next week in Jeddah."
Hadjar was putting in some impressive drives in both qualifying and racing in the first three rounds but also struggled in Bahrain and if it wasn't for the time penalty would have finished behind Lawson.
A step forward for Lawson but he'll need help from the team to take another next week.
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