Liam Lawson awaits Racing Bulls decision on his future

Pulse Sports Team 12:31 - 19 October 2026

Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson has opened up about a potential departure from the Red Bull family, as the Austrian outfit weighs its next moves and the future of Bulgarian prospect Nikola Tsolov.

The New Zealander is enjoying his strongest season in the World Championship to date, scoring points in 12 of the last 17 races, as well as in three sprint events. Boasting a best finish of fifth at both the Monaco Grand Prix and the Singapore sprint, Lawson has been instrumental in Racing Bulls' push for fifth in the Constructors' Championship—a historic milestone for the Faenza-based team across its various guises.

Despite his consistent performances, Lawson's seat remains under threat. Red Bull is reportedly considering promoting Formula 2 title contender Nikola Tsolov to a race seat, while Arvid Lindblad is expected to retain his drive for a second consecutive season following a strong rookie campaign.

Should Lawson miss out on a drive for the 2027 season, an immediate return to the grid appears unlikely. However, with the driver market anticipated to open up substantially for 2028, questions remain over the Kiwi's next move if he races for the team in 2027 before seeking a new challenge elsewhere.

"I don't know if I have to do anything, but in my view, the ultimate goal for every driver is always to win," Lawson told media when asked whether he would look outside the Red Bull setup beyond 2027.

"My focus is on putting myself in a position where I have a genuine shot at fighting for wins. If I can be in a team that gives me a better chance of doing that, then that's definitely the right way forward. As for how Red Bull operates—they've repeatedly shown that they make their decisions based on a range of factors. I don't know what will happen next year, but right now, that's not really on my mind at all."

"Those conversations are always happening and you naturally try to secure your future, but right now I'm not overthinking it. The first half of the season was very strong for me. We've had great races, and we've got fantastic tracks coming up before the end of the year. We're in a huge battle for fifth in the Constructors' standings, and my full focus is on that," Lawson added.