The Cars kid: How Liam Lawson's Pixar obsession became a window into F1's new generation
Both Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar owe their career’s to Pixar’s Cars – both have cited the 2006 film as the spark that ignited their passion for racing. However, if you look at the depth of their commitment to the “Radiator Springs” lifestyle, Lawson takes the P1 trophy. While Hadjar uses the film as a foundational “origin story,” Lawson has it into a personality defining brand. Lawson’s love for the film is so well documented that it has become a “Talking Bull” podcast staple. He has gone on record stating his passion for Formula One (F1) was ignited by Lightning McQueen and ignited by McQueen references to describe his own aggressive, “kachow” style of racing.
The “Cars fan rivalry” was formalised in late 2025 when Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) pitted the team mates against each other in a series of social media challenges. Lawson has a documented history of assigning F1 drivers to their Cars counterparts. He famously noted that his own aggressive, late raking style is essentially the “kachow” energy of #95, whereas he viewed the Red Bull senior seat as the “Hudson Hornet” role requiring a mix of Veteran grit and raw speed. While it seems like a light-hearted joke, this specific rivalry matters for the brand identity of the “New Red Bull” era. Lawson’s obsession with the first film which is about an underdog learning the value of a small town mirrors his own career. From his parents selling their house to fund his racing to losing the 2026 senior seat to Hadjar, Lawson lives the “Lightning McQueen at Radiator Springs” are every day.
In a direct “head to head” challenge hosted by VCARB in late 2025, the difference in their knowledge levels was statistically undeniable. In the viral “Cars character challenge,” Lawson didn’t just name the main trio. He rattled off secondary and tertiary characters like Chick Hicks, The King, Sally Carrera, Guido in addition to Luigi with a speed that left Hadjar stunned. Lawson has famously gone viral for a four minute breakdown where he matched the entire F1 grid to Cars characters. He didn’t just pick names: he analysed personality traits. By contrast, Hadjar’s fandom is largely sentimental. He admits the film “give him the impetus” to race at age two but in technical quizzes, he frequently hits a “knowledge ceiling” beyond the Radiator Springs core cast.
The most authoritative proof of Lawson’s superiority lies in his specialised knowledge and the way he maps the F1 grid onto the Cars universe. In a direct head to head challenge, Lawson showcased an encyclopedic recall that left Hadjar in the dust. While Hadjar could name the basics, Lawson rattled off secondary characters like Chick Hicks, The King and Sally Carrera with the speed of a P1 qualifying lap. Lawson has famously performed a full “character audit” of the current F1 grid. He doesn’t just watch the film: he uses it to categorise his rivals. The “Jackson Storm” of the paddock he identifies the newer, data driven rookies who lack the “old school” grit meanwhile the “Chick Hicks” persona: he isn’t afraid to call out the aggressive, win at all costs veterans. Lawson has turned his fandom into a marketing powerhouse. For a driver who famously saw his parents sell their house to fund his career, the “Lightning McQueen” underdog narrative provides a commercial “hook” that resonates with Gen Z fans in a way Hadjar’s more clinical, physicist family background does not.
For Lawson, the film is a branding solution. He has successfully turned a childhood film into a distinctive commercial identity. Lawson’s official bio noted that he was specifically “inspired by the Lightning McQueen character” and he has adopted a “kachow” persona in his defensive driving style which fans have dubbed “the McQueen defence.” In a viral video, Lawson went through the entire F1 grid and matched drivers to Cars characteristics with surgical precision. He didn’t just pick names: he analysed personalities, such as identifying the “Chick Hicks” and “Jackson Storm” figures of the 2026 paddock. For a driver without massive personal sponsorship, this connection with younger fans gives him a unique “Gen Z” appeal that team partners like Visa and Tudor have actively exploited.
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