Permane wants Lawson decision done: 'I want you guys to stop asking me'

Permane spoke to F1 TV and sounded frustrated by how long the saga has gone on. Lawson still does not know whether Racing Bulls will keep him next year or replace him with Formula 2 title contender Nikola Tsolov, even though his season has put him well clear of the rest of the midfield.

His comments came days after he walked away from Sky Sports' Ted Kravitz on the subject. This time he spoke on the record about his own impatience, and the tone had changed. Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix last month, he refused to set a date and told reporters: "It's going to be in the coming weeks, let's say." Back then he also said, "I mean, we're in no rush."

By the São Paulo weekend, Permane was openly acknowledging the toll the wait was taking. "I realise it's frustrating for our drivers," he said, adding that the team wants "to get it right, and we will get it right." He also said everyone would be happy with the eventual decision.

Lawson's results make the delay harder to explain. He is ninth in the drivers' championship on 89 points, more than double the total of Pierre Gasly, who is the next driver in the standings. Lawson arrived at Interlagos on 83 points and added six more by finishing seventh.

Permane said he was impressed by the New Zealander's race. Lawson started third, passed polesitter Lando Norris at Turn 2 and briefly pressured eventual winner Kimi Antonelli for the lead before the faster cars pulled away. Permane also praised rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad, who fought from 18th on the grid to 11th in difficult conditions. "If we look at his middle stint, which is when we put the new softs on, his pace is there," he said.

Neither seat is confirmed for 2027, and Lawson, Lindblad and Tsolov are all in contention. Tsolov is second in Formula 2 and made his F1 practice debut in Mexico. Permane has declined to say whether one option is to keep the current pair for next year and commit to Tsolov for 2028.

An announcement is expected before the Las Vegas Grand Prix however, Racing Bulls has not confirmed this and until they do, Lawson's F1 future remains unclear.