Lawson praised after Red Bull stand-in stint

Formula1.com reported Laurent Mekies praised Liam Lawson after Madrid, while Motorsport.com said Red Bull defended its in-race call on Max Verstappen.

Formula1.com reported that Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised stand-in driver Liam Lawson after the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid. As this story is not confirmed, the assessment remains reported rather than established here. Lawson, a New Zealander born on 11 February 2002, has made 44 Formula 1 starts from 2023 to 2026 and sits ninth in the 2026 drivers' championship on 59 points.

Separately, Motorsport.com reported that Mekies defended Red Bull's decision to instruct Max Verstappen to give back two positions during the race, adding that it was not realistic to suggest Verstappen would have won otherwise. That report said Verstappen finished second in Madrid behind Kimi Antonelli. Red Bull has competed in Formula 1 since 2005 and has won 130 Grands Prix and six constructors' titles.