Red Bull's Lawson decision looms as Tsolov waits for a Racing Bulls seat
Photo: Race Pictures
Ben Hunt is an award-winning motorsport journalist with over two decades of experience in Formula 1 and international media. As a former editor-in-chief and bestselling author, he delivers in-depth analysis and strategic insight from the highest level of the sport.
Liam Lawson still does not know if he will be racing in Formula 1 in 2027. The Racing Bulls driver says his situation is 'pretty similar to how it's been' as Red Bull nears a decision that could hand his seat to F2 title contender Nikola Tsolov.
The New Zealander gave his latest update on his future and there are still no guarantees for 2027, and with highly-regarded junior Nikola Tsolov waiting in the wings, Red Bull has a difficult decision to make.
"At this stage, it's pretty similar to how it's been," Lawson said. "There are conversations obviously constantly being had in the background, but for me, it's very much 'focus on the racing'."
Lawson believes he has done all he can
Lawson's results back him up. At Sepang he finished seventh, his 11th points return from 16 races this year, which keeps him ninth in the championship. He remains the highest-placed driver outside Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull.
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Starting on intermediates paid off. By the time Lawson reached turn one, he was wheel-to-wheel with pole-sitter Max Verstappen fighting for P3. As GPblog reported he did all of that without radio contact with his team.
I don't feel like there's much more I could have done this year. We've had a good season, and at the moment, [we're] in a good place in the championship, and that's where I'm trying to stay. I'm going to try to stay in ninth and keep those points rolling in, and those decisions I'm sure will be made in the next few weeks.- Liam Lawson,
Red Bull pushed its decision back
The timeline has already slipped and Red Bull itself has shown no sign of rushing. Last month, team principal Laurent Mekies highlighted how Tsolov was "leading the championship and we are very, very happy with the progress he's been making, both on track and from what we see he's doing with us in Milton Keynes in the simulator. We think we have time to make that decision on what's going to happen for him next year."
Red Bull Racing's own line-up is already settled after Isack Hadjar's extension, so Lawson's only route to staying in the family is Racing Bulls.
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Back in September, GPblog reported that the most likely outcome was Lawson and Arvid Lindblad staying on, with Tsolov as reserve.
Pundits split on Tsolov
Opinion is divided however. Ralf Schumacher thinks the junior team should promote the 19-year-old, saying: Tsolov is a promising talent, and you have to give a young driver a chance.
James Hinchcliffe sees it the other way. "He's done plenty to justify being back at that team," Hinchcliffe told the F1 Nation podcast. "I imagine that line-up's unchanged next year."
James Hinchcliffe sees it the other way. "He's done plenty to justify being back at that team," Hinchcliffe told the F1 Nation podcast. "I imagine that line-up's unchanged next year."
Time is running short for everyone involved. Only four seats remain open on the grid: two at Racing Bulls and two at Haas.
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