Considering that Lawson’s initial two-race stint at Red Bull saw him set the target of being 0.3s off Verstappen, as well as the fact he had never driven the team’s RB22 before, that 0.115s mark is arguably the Kiwi’s most impressive achievement of the weekend.
Liam Lawson leads Alpine’s Pierre Gasly at Formula One’s Dutch Grand Prix. Photo / Red Bull
However, with a week in between Zandvoort and Monza, no definitive timeline has been given over Hadjar’s fitness.
Multiple sources have confirmed to the Herald that there are no guarantees either way over Hadjar’s participation in Italy, and that the Frenchman will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness for Monza.
One source even suggested that, in an absolute worst case scenario, Hadjar could participate in the weekend’s first practice session, and then swap with Lawson if he was to be ruled out. That scenario, though, would require approval from the FIA, motorsport’s governing body.
In the meantime, Lawson has been given another chance to acclimatise to Red Bull’s RB22. The Kiwi took part on the opening day of a Pirelli tyre test at Italy’s Mugello circuit, as one of two drivers alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
That test was effectively a research and development opportunity for Pirelli, to learn as much as possible about the tyre compounds that will be available for drivers in the 2027 Formula One season.
Lawson reportedly covered 116 laps – two race distances – of the Mugello circuit, before handing over the Red Bull car to Racing Bulls’ reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa overnight.
The Italian Grand Prix weekend begins on September 4 (NZT), before the race itself on September 7.
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.