Poll: Does Lawson have the talent to justify Montoya's bold prediction?

Lawson's future has finally been secured after months of uncertainty, with Racing Bulls confirming that he will remain with the team for the 2027 season alongside Arvid Lindblad.

The announcement represents an important milestone for the 24-year-old, who has rebuilt his reputation following a difficult start to 2025, when he was demoted from Red Bull after just two Grands Prix.

Since then, Lawson has established himself as one of the most competitive drivers in the midfield, regularly scoring points and demonstrating that he deserves his place on the Formula 1 grid.

His performances have even prompted Montoya to draw comparisons with Verstappen, suggesting that Lawson possesses some of the qualities that have made the Dutchman one of the sport's most successful drivers.

"To a certain extent, Liam is starting to show that he could be the next Max. He could," Montoya said on the MontoyAS podcast.

There are reasons to believe Lawson's potential has yet to be fully realised. Despite driving for a midfield team, the New Zealander has consistently delivered strong results throughout 2026, including another points finish at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

His performances have helped Racing Bulls strengthen their position in the Constructors' Championship, while his growing confidence has become increasingly evident in his battles on track.

His confrontation with Verstappen during practice at the Mexican Grand Prix was perhaps the clearest example. Rather than backing down against the four-time world champion, Lawson stood his ground, even if the incident ultimately resulted in penalties for both drivers.

Montoya believes that attitude is an important part of Lawson's development: "He's starting to grow, he's starting to stick out his chest, his elbows, his shoulders, and make it clear that people need to respect him, too."

However, becoming the next Verstappen would require considerably more than strong midfield performances.

Lawson has already experienced the pressure of racing for Red Bull, having struggled during his brief spell alongside the Dutchman in 2025. He also returned to the senior team for three races in 2026 as a replacement for the injured Isack Hadjar, but was unable to match Verstappen's pace. Furthermore, with Hadjar confirmed as Verstappen's teammate for 2027, another promotion to Red Bull does not appear to be an immediate possibility.

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has even suggested that Lawson should leave the Red Bull family if he wants to maximise his chances of becoming a world champion.

Nevertheless, Lawson has shown enough this season to earn another opportunity, and his development at Racing Bulls could eventually open doors elsewhere on the grid.

The question is whether those performances are the beginning of a journey towards the very top of Formula 1, or whether comparisons with a driver of Verstappen's calibre are simply premature.

Do you agree with Montoya's assessment? Could Lawson really become the next Verstappen, or is the comparison a step too far? Vote in our poll below and share your thoughts in the comments!