Liam Lawson’s strategic call to switch to a two-stop race plan proved decisive at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, allowing him to gain an advantage over his Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad. The split strategy approach was a key factor in maximising the team’s points haul during the event held on July 26, 2026.
Despite Lindblad qualifying ahead of Lawson, starting ninth compared to Lawson’s eleventh, Lawson showed strong pace throughout practice and made up positions at the start, overtaking both Lindblad and Mercedes driver George Russell. Lindblad’s weekend was affected by a power unit change during the final practice session, which impacted his race preparation.
Racing Bulls initially planned a one-stop strategy for both drivers, focusing on tyre management with a long first stint on medium tyres. However, Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg’s race approach influenced the team to split their tactics. Lindblad remained on the original one-stop plan, while Lawson was called in for a second pit stop on lap 42. This decision allowed Lawson to run fresher soft tyres in the closing stages, enabling him to overtake Lindblad on lap 62 and finish ahead.
Lindblad completed a lengthy 49-lap stint on hard tyres but ultimately dropped to tenth place behind Lawson and Hulkenberg. Both Racing Bulls drivers scored points, which helped the team move ahead of Alpine to fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. Lindblad acknowledged that the one-stop strategy did not deliver the desired result but understood the rationale behind the team’s decision to split strategies between the two drivers.
Lawson praised the team’s adaptability in switching to a two-stop strategy and felt confident in the car’s performance throughout the race. His fresher tyres in the final laps were instrumental in gaining track position and securing a better finish than his teammate.
The Hungarian Grand Prix highlighted the importance of flexible race strategies in response to competitors’ approaches, with Racing Bulls benefiting from their split tactics. Both drivers contributed valuable points, reinforcing the team’s position in the championship standings.
