AUSTIN — Talking within the Pink Bull hospitality area following america Grand Prix, Christian Horner was fast to dole out the reward. The Pink Bull boss actually had some reward for Max Verstappen, who in Horner’s phrases had a “aggressive,” and “nice” battle with Lando Norris over the closing laps. However Verstappen was not the one driver within the Pink Bull fold that earned reward from the boss Sunday evening.
So too did Liam Lawson.
When Pink Bull determined to sideline Daniel Ricciardo and change him at Visa Money App RB F1 Crew with Lawson, many questioned if the younger driver could be as much as the problem. Making his return to the grid even more durable? This could be his first United States Grand Prix, and he was hit with a grid penalty that dropped him to the again of the sector, the place he began nineteenth.
He completed the day within the factors, up in ninth. An amazing restoration drive from Lawson, and one thing Horner highlighted in his post-race feedback to the media, together with SB Nation.
“Yeah, I believe when you’re getting right into a spat and getting your elbows out with Fernando [Alonso] in your first race again in, you’re doing all proper. And I believe that he drove an distinctive race at this time from nineteenth to ninth,” started Horner, referencing a scrape between Lawson and Alonso throughout the F1 Dash Race on Saturday. “He was quick. He was brave. And I believed it was a superb comeback for him.”
At one level throughout Horner’s media session, he was requested about younger Franco Colapinto, who additionally scored factors on his debut at america Grand Prix, ending tenth. The Pink Bull boss was requested whether or not Colapinto’s type makes him a candidate for a spot at VCARB for subsequent season. Whereas Horner was fast to reward what Colapinto has been capable of accomplish over his younger F1 profession, he shortly spun his reply proper again to Lawson.
“I believe Franco’s turning heads. Clearly,” started Horner. “I believe Liam shone equally as brightly as a few of Franco’s earlier races as nicely. At a observe he’s by no means been to earlier than, towards a fast teammate, to go from the again of the grid to P9. You recognize, it’s a very good efficiency.”
Lawson’s dramatic ninth-place end helped VCARB mitigate among the injury of their battle for sixth place with Haas. With Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen each ending within the factors within the F1 Dash Race on Saturday, and Hülkenberg selecting up 4 extra factors along with his eighth-place end within the Grand Prix on Sunday, Haas leapt over VCARB within the Constructors’ Championship standings. Now the American-based group has a two-point lead over VCARB, however that will have been 4 with out Lawson’s “good efficiency.”
