Liam Lawson and Red Bull Racing described their Friday practice sessions at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix as productive, despite not matching the outright pace of the leading teams. Lawson, stepping in for Isack Hadjar who is recovering from a broken wrist, showed promising signs in the first session and focused on longer runs in the second.
During the first practice session, Lawson secured fourth place, finishing just 0.4 seconds off the fastest time. In the afternoon, he concentrated on race simulations and finished twelfth, prioritising consistent long-run performance over outright speed. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen missed the first session due to team strategy, with reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa taking the wheel. Verstappen returned for the second session, ending ninth after encountering bouncing issues and needing to replace his front wing during the run.
Red Bull’s Technical Director Pierre Wache acknowledged that the team identified some unresolved issues with the car during the second practice. Efforts were underway overnight to address these problems ahead of Saturday’s sessions. The team is aware of the gap to the frontrunners, particularly in qualifying pace, but noted that their long-run performance is comparatively stronger.
Lawson is using this weekend as an opportunity to build on his experience, particularly learning from previous challenges he faced at circuits like Zandvoort. His role as a stand-in driver for Red Bull Racing provides valuable track time and insight into the car’s behaviour under different conditions. Verstappen’s limited running in the first session was part of the team’s approach to manage resources and gather data from their reserve driver.
The bouncing issue Verstappen experienced during the second session highlighted ongoing setup challenges for Red Bull at Monza. The team’s focus remains on refining the car’s balance and performance to close the gap with the top contenders. While the outright one-lap pace is still behind, the team’s relative strength in race conditions offers a platform to work from.
Overall, Friday’s running at the Italian Grand Prix provided Red Bull Racing with useful data and a clearer picture of their current performance level. Lawson’s productive day and Verstappen’s return to the car set the stage for further adjustments as the weekend progresses.