Christian Horner lauds Liam Lawson following ‘excellent comeback’ at United States GP

Red Bull boss Christian Horner had nothing but praise for Liam Lawson after the United States Grand Prix

AUSTIN — Speaking in the Red Bull hospitality space following the United States Grand Prix, Christian Horner was quick to dole out the praise. The Red Bull boss certainly had some praise for Max Verstappen, who in Horner’s words had a “competitive,” and “great” battle with Lando Norris over the closing laps. But Verstappen was not the only driver in the Red Bull fold that earned praise from the boss Sunday night.

So too did Liam Lawson.

When Red Bull decided to sideline Daniel Ricciardo and replace him at Visa Cash App RB F1 Team with Lawson, many wondered if the young driver would be up to the challenge. Making his return to the grid even tougher? This would be his first United States Grand Prix, and he was hit with a grid penalty that dropped him to the back of the field, where he started 19th.

He finished the day in the points, up in ninth. A tremendous recovery drive from Lawson, and something Horner highlighted in his post-race comments to the media, including SB Nation.

“Yeah, I think if you’re getting into a spat and getting your elbows out with Fernando [Alonso] on your first race back in, you’re doing all right. And I think that he drove an exceptional race today from 19th to ninth,” began Horner, referencing a scrape between Lawson and Alonso during the F1 Sprint Race on Saturday. “He was fast. He was courageous. And I thought it was an excellent comeback for him.”

At one point during Horner’s media session, he was asked about young Franco Colapinto, who also scored points on his debut at the United States Grand Prix, finishing tenth. The Red Bull boss was asked whether Colapinto’s form makes him a candidate for a spot at VCARB for next season. While Horner was quick to praise what Colapinto has been able to accomplish over his young F1 career, he quickly spun his answer right back to Lawson.

“I think Franco’s turning heads. Obviously,” began Horner. “I think Liam shone equally as brightly as some of Franco’s earlier races as well. At a track he’s never been to before, against a quick teammate, to go from the back of the grid to P9. You know, it’s a good performance.”

Lawson’s dramatic ninth-place finish helped VCARB mitigate some of the damage in their battle for sixth place with Haas. With Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen both finishing in the points in the F1 Sprint Race on Saturday, and Hülkenberg picking up four more points with his eighth-place finish in the Grand Prix on Sunday, Haas leapt over VCARB in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Now the American-based team has a two-point lead over VCARB, but that would have been four without Lawson’s “good performance.”