Liam Lawson kicks off 2025 season in Bahrain

On Thursday Liam Lawson had a smooth morning session in the newly christened RB21, with a minor spin being the only hiccup in his planned run. The Kiwi ended the day with the eighth-fastest time, though pre-season testing times are rarely an accurate reflection of true performance.

Max Verstappen took over driving duties in the afternoon session, clocking a lap just under a second quicker than Lawson’s—though under different track conditions and at a different time of day.

McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the timesheets, followed by Mercedes’ George Russell in second and Verstappen in third.

Day 2 saw Lawson behind the wheel for the full day, clocking 91 laps in a session hindered by minor car issues in the morning. The Kiwi's fastest time for the day was a 1.30.252, good enough for P7.

Red Bull heads into 2025 hoping Lawson can contribute to the team’s efforts to reclaim the Constructors' Championship from McLaren.

Teams have one more day of pre-season testing in Bahrain before the cars are covered up again until the season-opening Melbourne Grand Prix on March 13-16.