Sports · Motorsport · 16 hrs ago
Lawson's Racing Bulls future remains uncertain for 2027
Racing Bulls have yet to choose their 2027 drivers for the Formula 1 team.
Current drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are competing for two seats, with Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov also in contention.
Lawson has scored points in 12 of 17 races and says his focus is on helping his team fight for fifth in the constructors’ standings.
Tsolov’s possible promotion could put Lawson’s seat at risk, while Lindblad is expected to have a second season.
One view is that keeping Lawson alongside Lindblad would give the team a useful benchmark for judging the younger driver.
No decision has been made, and responsibility rests with Red Bull’s shareholders and senior management.
Lawson says he does not know what will happen and is concentrating on the remaining races.
Liam Lawson’s place at Racing Bulls for 2027 has not been decided.
The team has three drivers in contention for two seats: Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov.
Lawson has scored points in 12 of 17 races this season and taken a career-equalling best finish of fifth.
One argument for retaining Lawson is that he could provide a benchmark for assessing Lindblad, while another possibility is promoting Tsolov.
The decision rests with Red Bull’s shareholders and senior management.
- Who
- Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Nikola Tsolov are in contention for Racing Bulls’ two seats.
- What
- Racing Bulls has not finalised its 2027 driver line-up.
- When
- The decision concerns the 2027 season. A decision has not yet been taken.
- Where
- Racing Bulls, a Formula 1 team.
- Why
- Three drivers are being considered for two seats. The sources describe differing views on whether to retain Lawson or promote Tsolov.
Retain Lawson alongside Lindblad
Promote Tsolov
Driver experience
Retain Lawson alongside Lindblad
Lawson is consistently quicker than Lindblad in qualifying and races, according to BBC Sport. Keeping him could provide a benchmark for judging Lindblad.
Promote Tsolov
Tsolov, a Red Bull junior driver and Formula 2 title contender, could be promoted alongside Lindblad.
Assessment of prospects
Retain Lawson alongside Lindblad
An extra season alongside Lawson could show whether Lindblad can consistently beat him.
Promote Tsolov
Putting Lindblad and Tsolov together would give both drivers a chance, though BBC Sport says they would be two unknown quantities.
Lawson has scored points in 12 of 17 races and in three Sprints.
Lawson has taken a career-equalling best of fifth in Monaco and the Singapore Sprint.
Motorsport Week reported that the Racing Bulls seat decision remained open.
BBC Sport reported that no decision had been taken on Racing Bulls’ 2027 line-up.
- Drivers in contention
- Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Nikola Tsolov
- Available Racing Bulls seats
- 2
- Lawson points-scoring races
- 12 of 17
- Lawson points-scoring Sprints
- 3
- Lawson career-equalling best
- Fifth, in Monaco and the Singapore Sprint
- Decision-makers
- Shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, with Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff in overall charge of the F1 programme
3 sources
What people are saying
I don’t know what’s going to happen next year, but for me, it’s honestly not really what I’m thinking about now.
So for me, my focus is to put myself in a position where I can be winning for one, and if I can go to a team that gives me a better chance to do that, that’s obviously what we’re what we get to do.