Liam Lawson, a Red Bull reserve driver, has lauded Max Verstappen’s exceptional confidence level with his Formula 1 car, noting that it is a rare quality among drivers in the sport. 

Verstappen’s comfort and confidence with the RB20 car have been evident, as he has secured pole positions and race wins in the early races of the season.

Lawson emphasized Verstappen’s ability to quickly adapt and feel at ease with the car, which allows him to deliver impressive performances right from the start of his laps. In contrast, Lawson pointed out that other drivers, like Lewis Hamilton, may not always feel completely confident with their cars, affecting their performance.

“The main thing I’d say is the confidence level,” the Kiwi told Sky Sports. “Max’s confidence level with that car, it’s got to be higher than anybody’s.”

“If you look at Lewis [Hamilton] for example. He’s obviously not 100% happy and hasn’t been with that car.”

“You can imagine that every time he approaches the start of a qualifying lap or any lap really, he’s not going to be 100% confident with what he’s got underneath him and know exactly what it’s going to do.

“Whereas with where Max is at right now with the Red Bull, the car is in such a good window and he’s so comfortable with it.”

Verstappen’s precise and flawless driving, particularly evident in tight and challenging circuits like the one in Saudi Arabia, highlights his confidence and comfort with the car. Lawson observed Verstappen’s ability to hit every apex and get extremely close to the walls, showcasing his precise control and confidence in the car’s capabilities.

“When you look at his qualifying lap from Jeddah, he doesn’t miss an apex and he gets so close to the wall,” the Red Bull reserve driver said. “In places, [such as] Turn 4, I’m pretty sure he touched it on the inside which is extremely, extremely difficult to do. To be that precise.

“But it’s not just Turn 4, it’s Turn 10, it’s Turn 22 as well, it’s everywhere basically. He’s so precise with it and it’s because he’s so confident with the car. It’s those things that really make up that time as well.”

“Obviously it’s a great opportunity,” the 22-year-old said. “If I could choose any team to be with, I would definitely prefer this one because I have basically direct access to all of the information and how he does it.”

As a Red Bull reserve driver, Lawson expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to closely observe and learn from Verstappen’s driving. He acknowledged that being associated with the Red Bull team allows him direct access to valuable information and insights into how Verstappen achieves his exceptional performance on the track.