Nico Rosberg questions Red Bull driver as Laurent Mekies hits back
Rosberg and Mekies disagree on Lawson (Photo: Race Pictures)
15:00, 21 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Liam Lawson’s Formula 1 future is quickly becoming one of the biggest driver transfer stories of the 2026 season.
Of the 2026 grid, 13 drivers are already contracted for next season, but many of the remaining nine are almost certain to continue.
However, one organisation that always attracts plenty of interest is Red Bull, who have only Max Verstappen nailed down among their four seats across the senior squad and Racing Bulls.
GPblog understands that the current set-up is likely to continue, with Isack Hadjar partnering Verstappen at Red Bull and Lawson continuing alongside Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls.
Yet Lawson’s long-term future is anything but certain and continues to provoke plenty of debate.
The New Zealander has subbed in for the injured Hadjar at the last three Grands Prix, and despite a reasonable points haul, Nico Rosberg doesn’t think it’s enough.
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Instead, the 2016 champion argued that Red Bull only want the true elite.
Nico Rosberg questions whether Lawson is good enough for Red Bull
“That's certainly a difficult decision,” he said on Sky F1. “They do need to decide at some point.
“The thing for Red Bull, though, is they're looking for the next Max Verstappen and the next Sebastian Vettel.
“Everything else is just not good enough. At the moment, I'm not sure that Liam Lawson would be considered at that level with what he's been producing so far.
“With Lindblad and also Hadjar, it's still possible in the discussions for them.”
Despite Rosberg having one of the most influential voices in the paddock, the man in charge of the call has put up a defence of his driver.
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Lawson finished seventh in the Netherlands, 14th in Monza, and sixth last time out in Madrid.
Mekies offers very different verdict on Lawson
Giving his review, Red Bull team principal and CEO Laurent Mekies said: “I think he's done a very good job.
"I think we all know how difficult it is to jump to a different team, to a different car, and I think that he has done that to the best of what could have been our expectations.
“He has taken some very important points today with the P6. He did the same in Zandvoort and in Monza he would have done something similar without the contact with Nico [Hulkenberg] and the front wing damage.
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“So, I think he did a very good job, again very different pictures compared to the first two races of 2025 when he was in the team so we are thankful and happy with that.”
Rosberg’s views are certainly valid, but this is clearly a different Red Bull to the Christian Horner and Helmut Marko era, a crucial difference that may give Lawson time to become an F1 regular.
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Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
08:30 AM
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Friday 25.09.26
Practice 3
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12:00 PM
Saturday 26.09.26
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11:00 AM
Thursday 24.09.26
Practice 1
Thu 08:30 AM
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F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 292 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 211 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 191 | |
4 | McLarenMCL | 186 | |
5 | FerrariFER | 167 | |
6 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 145 | |
7 | McLarenMCL | 120 | |
8 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 71 | |
9 | Racing BullsRCB | 59 | |
10 | AlpineALP | 41 |
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