Lawson strikes pessimistic tone as 2027 F1 seat uncertainty lingers

Speaking to Sky Sports after Sunday's race, Lawson acknowledged the pressure surrounding his future, insisting he is doing everything possible to prove himself with just four Grands Prix remaining this season.

The New Zealander's comments came after a remarkable turnaround in Mexico, where his weekend appeared to have unravelled before the race even began. Lawson initially qualified eighth on Saturday, but was subsequently disqualified after his Racing Bulls failed to comply with the minimum MGU-K power deployment requirements following his fastest lap in Q2.

The FIA determined that Lawson did not lift off the throttle immediately after crossing the timing line, preventing the required reduction in electrical power from being achieved. Although Racing Bulls maintained that no competitive advantage was gained, the infringement resulted in his exclusion from the qualifying classification.

It was another setback for Lawson, who already faced a one-place grid penalty following an incident with Max Verstappen during Friday's second practice session. Racing Bulls subsequently opted to replace several power unit components and modify his suspension set-up, leaving him facing a pit-lane start on Sunday.

Despite starting behind the entire field, Lawson gradually worked his way through the pack, reaching 15th before Valtteri Bottas crashed heavily at Turn 1 and brought out the red flag. The timing of the interruption initially frustrated Lawson, who stopped shortly before the Safety Car was deployed, but the restart offered him another opportunity to make progress.

The 24-year-old continued his recovery after racing resumed, benefiting from further incidents and climbing into the points. He crossed the finish line ninth before post-race penalties for Franco Colapinto and Oscar Piastri promoted him to seventh, securing six valuable points for Racing Bulls.

The result marked Lawson's fifth consecutive points finish, matching his previous career-best run, and took his championship tally to 83 points. He remains ninth in the drivers' standings, while Racing Bulls strengthened their position in fifth place in the constructors' championship.