Racing Bulls star Liam Lawson is bracing for an “eye opening” weekend of Formula 1 racing at this weekend’s season opener in Melbourne.
The Kiwi is still getting to grips with his new car – VCARB 03 – which he says is “very different to drive”.
“We’re still in the learning phase. As drivers we definitely don’t know everything yet,” Lawson told Breakfast this morning.
“We haven’t raced with these cars yet so I think this weekend will be a big eye opener as to what that’s going to be like.”
The 2026 season marks a large technical regulation overhaul for Formula 1, with teams adapting to new power units, revised aerodynamics and greater reliance on electrical energy as the sport shifts toward a more sustainable era.
It comes after a tumultuous 2025 campaign for Lawson, which saw him promoted to senior team Red Bull Racing at the start of the season and demoted to junior team Racing Bulls after just two races.
“Last year was a very stressful year, it was very busy.
Kiwi F1 star explains what makes 2026 Formula 1 season so ‘different’ – watch on TVNZ+
“Looking back on it, I tried to take some time to reflect but honestly it’s very blurry. It happened all at once. To get through it was very important.”
A strong end to the year saw Lawson secure his spot on the 2026 grid with Racing Bulls, effectively edging out former teammate Yuki Tsunoda for the seat.
The Kiwi was grateful to have had some downtime back home in New Zealand ahead of what’s promising to be a massive year. “
He said he’s keenly aware of the support he’s had from home.
“Firstly, thank you for watching at the worst hours,” he said to Kiwi fans.
“More of the races I go to now you start seeing New Zealand flags around as well which is really cool. Fans bringing me Whittaker’s chocolate all of last year, which was amazing.”
Formula 1 has been ripe for entertainment in recent years, with the advent of Netflix’s Drive to Survive and 2025’s F1 blockbuster starring Brad Pitt.
But 24-year-old Lawson said of those productions: “It’s very Hollywood.”
“In some ways, yes [it’s like that]. I love Top Gun. I think that would be amazing [to have Tom Cruise play me], either that or Ryan Gosling.”
And he admits he did watch a season of Drive to Survive.
“I watched the first one that I was in, because I thought that was very cool. But I haven’t watched the recent one, obviously last year was a pretty brutal year as well, we have enough to think about and focus on.”