Liam Lawson handed ‘phenomenal’ praise but dealt Red Bull blow

Liam Lawson’s standout drive at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix drew high praise from British racer Jamie Chadwick, who called the New Zealander’s weekend “phenomenal.” Yet, despite the plaudits, Chadwick believes Red Bull should elevate rookie Isack Hadjar to the senior team ahead of Lawson for next season.

A Baku weekend that showcased maturity and speed

Lawson delivered his best Formula 1 result to date with fifth place at the Baku City Circuit, finishing ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, Lando Norris and both Ferrari drivers. He qualified a superb third in tricky conditions and spent much of the race executing calm, disciplined defense against quicker cars.

Chadwick highlighted Lawson’s composure and racecraft under pressure in the closing stages as he fended off Tsunoda, Norris and Lewis Hamilton. “I think Liam was phenomenal,” she said on the Sky F1 Show podcast. “He was great, actually, if you watch quite closely with the race, even things like his out laps, the aggressiveness. I know he’s been called out for being too aggressive at times, but he sort of timed it perfectly... he had a huge amount of pressure at the end of that race, and just batted it all off with ease.”

Why Chadwick tips Hadjar for Red Bull

Despite Lawson’s surge, Chadwick argues that Isack Hadjar has been the revelation of the season at the Red Bull sister team. The French-Algerian rookie arrived with modest expectations but has made Q3 and the points on a regular basis, catching many in the paddock by surprise.

Lawson, who was previously demoted by Red Bull, needed time to regain rhythm earlier in the year. In contrast, Hadjar’s immediate impact has convinced Chadwick that Red Bull should consider him for promotion to partner Max Verstappen. “If you’re Red Bull... they’ve got to start really taking him seriously,” she said, adding that Hadjar should be a “serious contender” for next year’s seat, potentially at the expense of Tsunoda.

Implications for the Red Bull driver picture

Chadwick’s stance underscores Red Bull’s perennial dilemma: reward proven resilience, as shown by Lawson in Baku, or back the ceiling and consistency of an eye-catching rookie like Hadjar. With Verstappen entrenched as team leader, the choice of a complementary team-mate could hinge on qualifying sharpness, defensive robustness, and adaptability under pressure — qualities both candidates displayed in different ways in 2025.

Key takeaways

• Lawson qualified P3 and finished P5 in Baku, impressing with cool-headed defense against faster rivals.
• Jamie Chadwick called his performance “phenomenal”, praising his aggression and precision on out-laps.
• Chadwick nonetheless backs rookie Isack Hadjar for a Red Bull promotion based on consistent Q3 and points results.
• Red Bull’s decision could come down to complementary strengths alongside Max Verstappen.