Sports · Motorsport · 10 hrs ago
Lawson has no assurance of keeping his Racing Bulls seat for 2027
Liam Lawson says his Racing Bulls seat is uncertain for 2027.
The New Zealander is having a strong Formula 1 season, with 83 points and more than twice as many as team-mate Arvid Lindblad.
He also finished seventh at the Mexico City Grand Prix after starting from the pit lane.
Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov is in contention for the seat.
The 19-year-old Bulgarian is challenging for the Formula 2 title and impressed Racing Bulls during his first F1 practice session in Mexico.
Red Bull must choose between keeping Lawson, who has recently outperformed Lindblad, and giving Tsolov a chance.
The decision will shape who drives for Racing Bulls in 2027.
Team chief Alan Permane is expected to make the call, but no announcement date has been given.
Liam Lawson says he has no assurance of keeping his Racing Bulls seat for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
The team has not officially confirmed either of its drivers for 2027, and Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov is among the contenders for a seat.
Lawson is the highest-placed midfield driver in the 2026 championship and has scored 83 points, according to Motorsport.com.
He finished seventh at the Mexico City Grand Prix after starting from the pit lane.
Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer praised Tsolov’s performance during his first F1 practice session in Mexico.
- Who
- Liam Lawson, a Racing Bulls driver, and Nikola Tsolov, a Red Bull junior and Formula 2 title contender.
- What
- Lawson has no assurance of retaining his Racing Bulls seat for 2027. Tsolov is a contender for a seat.
- When
- For the 2027 season. Lawson discussed the uncertainty after the Mexico City Grand Prix.
- Where
- Racing Bulls, based in Faenza; Lawson discussed the issue in Mexico.
- Why
- Racing Bulls has not confirmed its 2027 drivers, and the team is considering its options as it develops new talent.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lawson scored 83 points, nearly twice the 42 scored by the second-best midfield driver, Pierre Gasly, according to Motorsport.com.
Lawson returned to Racing Bulls and, according to Motorsport.com, was not outqualified on merit in the period described.
Lawson finished seventh after starting from the pit lane, and Tsolov made his F1 practice debut.
Sky Sports reported Lawson had said he had no assurance about retaining his seat for 2027.
Motorsport.com reported that Lawson’s recent form was complicating Red Bull’s decision over the 2027 seat.
- Lawson’s 2026 points
- 83
- Pierre Gasly’s points
- 42
- Lawson’s points in the last four grands prix
- 24
- Lawson’s qualifying head-to-head with Lindblad
- 12-6
- Tsolov’s age
- 19
- Tsolov’s F2 victories
- 6 across the first 14 races of 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
There's definitely no assurance at the moment [for next year].
It’s obviously a massive shame, but it’s something that I’m just having to deal with at the moment
Honestly, [Tsolov's] performance on Friday was superb. It was his first time in the car, and he integrated into the team absolutely perfectly.
And he will make the right choice for the team.