Liam Lawson Told to Eliminate Mistakes to Unlock Full Potential

Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has made it clear: Liam Lawson must "eliminate" the small mistakes that still creep into his performances. Lawson has started the 2026 season strongly, scoring points in two of the first four rounds, a far cry from the turmoil of 12 months ago when Red Bull demoted him after just two races.

Permane credits Lawson's smoother start to having a full pre-season with the team, something he lacked last year when he was thrust into a mid-season seat change. "You can't compare one and a half days of testing, starting from the pit lane for two races, then having to change teams. It can't be any worse than that," Permane told media including RacingNews365.

Why it matters:

Lawson has long been regarded as a driver with immense natural speed, but his early F1 career has been defined by inconsistency. If he can iron out the low points, he could transform from a promising talent into a consistent front-runner — a crucial step for both his own future and Racing Bulls' ambitions in the midfield fight.

The Details:

• Permane explicitly highlighted the need to eliminate performance swings: "We can’t be qualifying third on the grid one weekend and then out in Q1 the following weekend."
• The team boss sees no issue with Lawson's peak pace: "I’d much rather he works on consistency, not the absolute pace, because I think that’s there."
• Lawson himself is reportedly aware of the issue and working on it with the team.
• Permane added that even if Lawson never improves his top level, simply lifting his worst days to an acceptable standard would represent "a fantastic step."

What's next:

Lawson's next test will come at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, a track where consistency under pressure often separates the good from the great. If he can deliver a clean weekend without Q1 exits or costly mistakes, it will signal that the message from Permane is truly sinking in — and that Lawson is ready to take the next step in his F1 career.