AUSTIN – Speaking at Red Bull's hospitality space after the US Grand Prix, Christian Horner was quick to offer praise. The Red Bull boss was certainly full of praise for Verstappen, who, in Horner's words, had a “competitive” and “fantastic” battle with Lando Norris in the final laps. But Verstappen was not the only driver in the Red Bull team to receive praise from the boss on Sunday night.
So was Liam Lawson.
When Red Bull decided to sideline Daniel Ricciardo and replace him with Lawson at the Visa Cash App RB F1 team, many wondered if the young driver would be up to the challenge. Ta. Will his return to the grid be even more difficult? This was his first American Grand Prix, but he received a grid penalty and fell to the back of the grid, starting 19th.
He finished the day in ninth place in the points. Lawson's incredible resilience, something Horner highlighted in his post-race comments to the media. SB Nation.
“Yeah, I would think so if you and Fernando got into an argument and you stuck your elbow out.” [Alonso] In my first race back, I'm doing well. And I think he had an exceptional race today, from 19th to ninth,” Horner began, referring to the collision between Lawson and Alonso during Saturday's F1 sprint race. “He was fast. He was brave. And I think it was a great comeback for him.”
At one point during Horner's media session, he was asked about young Franco Colapinto. He also scored points in his debut race at the United States Grand Prix, finishing 10th. The Red Bull boss was asked if Colapinto's form makes him a candidate for a spot at VCARB next season. Horner was quick to praise what Colapinto was able to achieve in his young F1 career, but quickly gave his answer back to Lawson.
“I think Franco is changing direction, obviously,” Horner began. “I think Liam shone as well in Franco’s early races, going from the back of the grid to ninth on a track he had never done before, against a fast teammate. That's a great performance.”
Lawson's dramatic ninth-place finish helped VCRB alleviate some of the damage in the battle for sixth place with Haas. Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen both finished in the points in Saturday's F1 sprint race, with Hulkenberg picking up a further four points with an eighth place finish in Sunday's Grand Prix, and Haas trailing VCARB in the constructors' championship standings. jumped over. The US-based team currently holds a two-point lead over VCARB, but that lead would have been four points if not for Lawson's “good performance”.
