Liam Lawson Reflects on Racing Bulls Stint as Red Bull Decision Nears

Liam Lawson has offered an “honest” assessment of his time at Racing Bulls, as Red Bull's crucial 2026 driver lineup decision looms. The New Zealander is a key contender for one of the two seats at the team next season, amidst an intense battle for future F1 spots.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's driver decisions for 2026 will significantly shape the careers of several promising talents and could alter the competitive dynamics within their two F1 teams. For Lawson, securing a full-time seat with Red Bull or Racing Bulls is critical for solidifying his place in Formula 1 after a promising but turbulent start to his career.

The details:

• Lawson is one of three drivers vying for a seat, with current teammate Isack Hadjar reportedly set for a promotion to partner Max Verstappen at the senior Red Bull team.
• This leaves Lawson, current Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda, and F2 protege Arvid Lindblad battling for the remaining Racing Bulls seat. Lindblad is anticipated to be the latest Red Bull-backed rookie to step into F1.
• Lawson began the season with Red Bull but was demoted to Racing Bulls after just two races.
• During his tenure at Racing Bulls, he has performed commendably, scoring 36 points and achieving a career-best fifth place in Azerbaijan, where he also started third on the grid.
• Despite the imminent decision, Lawson expressed no regrets about his 21 race weekends with Racing Bulls this season.
  • “Honestly, at this point, with the race tomorrow, it is not really what we’re thinking about too much,” Lawson stated when asked by RacingNews365 about the Red Bull decision.
  • “I’ve been in this situation plenty of times now to know what it feels like. I guess the decision will come after the weekend, but for now, we have a race tomorrow.”
• He acknowledged that, in hindsight, there were races where he might have done things differently, but overall, he is “pretty happy” with his performance.
• Regarding his qualifying performance in Qatar, Lawson noted that the team “got there” after struggling with balance issues throughout the weekend.

What's next:

The decision from Red Bull is expected shortly after the current race weekend, which will clarify the futures of Lawson, Tsunoda, and Lindblad. For Lawson, the hope is that his strong performances, particularly in Azerbaijan, will be enough to secure a full-time F1 drive.

• Should he secure a seat, it would mark a significant step in his F1 career, potentially setting him up for long-term success within the Red Bull family.
• However, if he misses out, it would be a major setback, pushing him back into a reserve role or requiring him to seek opportunities outside the Red Bull program.