Lawson lifts Racing Bulls to fifth in standings after Hungarian Grand Prix
NXTbets Pro | Published On: August 6, 2026
Lawson's rise
Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson said he is “in a good place” after the best start to his Formula 1 career, and the results support that view. He has scored points in all but three races this season, a steady run that has pushed him to ninth in the drivers’ standings after he finished eighth at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Lawson has 43 points in 2026, a total built on consistency more than one-off flashes. He said the VCARB 03 took time to understand early in the year, but the car has come into its own as the season has unfolded. That adjustment has mattered because Racing Bulls also had little clarity about its competitive level when the new 2026 Formula 1 regulations arrived. Lawson said the team entered that period with “no real idea” how strong it would be, a fair reflection of the uncertainty that comes with a new rules cycle. The early months asked for patience. The recent stretch has delivered reward. Lawson’s points finishes in China and Arvid Lindblad’s debut points in Melbourne helped confirm the team was on the right path, and the results since then have backed that up with a far more complete picture of Racing Bulls’ progress.
Racing Bulls climb
Racing Bulls have turned that early uncertainty into a strong midseason position. Lawson’s eighth place in Hungary and Lindblad’s 10th place lifted the team to fifth in the constructors’ championship, a move that put Racing Bulls on 66 points and five points ahead of Alpine. The team has scored points in 10 races so far in 2026, a return that shows how often it has put itself in the mix on Sundays. It also logged its fifth double-points finish in six rounds, a run that underlines how often both cars have delivered together. Lawson pointed to the team’s strongest weekends in Monaco, Austria and Silverstone as signs of real progress. Those results fit the wider trend. Racing Bulls found performance quickly after a difficult start to the season and then built on it with repeated point-scoring runs. The team has not needed a perfect car or a perfect weekend to stay in the fight. It has needed balance, execution and a steady hand from both drivers. Lawson said the group still has two races in particular to examine more closely, Miami and Spa, which he identified as events where the team can learn more about its package and improve its execution. That kind of self-assessment has helped Racing Bulls hold its ground while also pushing upward in the standings.
Lawson's focus
Lawson has kept his message simple. He wants to maximize each weekend rather than chase a specific championship position, even with Racing Bulls now sitting fifth and in reach of the best midfield spot. That approach matches the way the team has climbed so far. It has not depended on big statements. It has depended on consistent points, clean weekends and a better read on the VCARB 03 as the year has gone on. Lawson said he believes Racing Bulls can finish as the best midfield team, and the numbers give that goal some weight. The squad has already banked 66 points, scored in 10 races and produced repeated double-points finishes when both cars have shown pace. Lawson’s own head-to-head record with Lindblad adds another layer to the story. Lawson leads the qualifying battle 6-5, though Lindblad holds the edge in Q3 appearances, 7-5. That split fits the broader shape of the team’s season, with both drivers contributing in different ways. Lawson has delivered the points and the track results that matter most in the standings. Lindblad has added value through consistent qualifying progression and his first points in Melbourne. Together, those efforts have moved Racing Bulls into a stronger place than it expected when the new regulations arrived, and Lawson’s form has become a central part of that rise.
