Liam Lawson revealed he would “love to know tomorrow” about his Liam Lawson Red Bull future but understands that it is typical to be left waiting at this stage of the year. The New Zealand driver remains out of contract beyond the 2025 season, having returned to Red Bull’s junior Racing Bulls team after two early-season races alongside Max Verstappen. His recent form has improved, highlighted by a career-best fifth-place finish in Azerbaijan, though his position within the Red Bull organization remains unsettled.
Despite Lawson’s promising performances, his place on the Racing Bulls lineup for 2026 is not guaranteed. He is competing against teammate Isack Hadjar and fellow Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad for a seat. Hadjar himself is reportedly being considered for a promotion to Red Bull’s main Formula 1 team, potentially replacing Yuki Tsunoda. Meanwhile, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed discussions with McLaren’s former junior driver Alex Dunne, although any move for Dunne would currently be aimed at integrating him into Red Bull’s junior ranks rather than a direct step into Racing Bulls.
Lawson recognizes that job security in Formula 1 heavily relies on consistent performance.
“I’d love to know tomorrow, honestly,”
he said in Singapore when asked about his future within the Red Bull family.
Image of: Liam Lawson
“But obviously, in this camp, it’s very normal to be left on hold a little bit, and that’s how it is at the moment. I know the only thing that has control over that is my performance in the car. So until I have that answer, I think that’s just what I’m focused on.”
This candid admission reflects the uncertain nature of contracts and career progression within the Red Bull development framework.
Challenges faced by Lawson during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend
Lawson’s momentum was disrupted during the recent Singapore Grand Prix weekend, where he struggled significantly. After a strong showing in Azerbaijan, he crashed in both FP2 and FP3 sessions in Singapore, which compromised his preparation ahead of qualifying. Consequently, he managed to qualify only 14th, with his teammate Hadjar securing eighth place. Such setbacks highlight the difficulties Lawson must overcome to secure his place for the future within the competitive Red Bull system.
The Racing Bulls’ fight in the Constructors’ Championship remains a crucial context for Lawson’s efforts. Although trailing Hadjar by nine points, the 23-year-old is committed to supporting the team’s campaign. With no explicit individual targets set for the remainder of the season, Lawson emphasizes the importance of consistent point-scoring to contribute towards the team’s goal of finishing sixth in the championship.
“From a wider perspective, that’s probably the goal for me. It’s just every time I get in the car, trying to get the most out of it and score the most amount of points I can.”
This team-focused approach indicates his understanding that personal success is closely tied to overall team performance.
The ongoing formation of the 2026 Formula 1 grid and driver contracts
As the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches, driver line-ups across the grid are gradually taking shape, though many seats remain undecided. Contracts within Formula 1 frequently reflect the sport’s unpredictable nature—drivers rarely feel completely secure, even with multi-year deals. Lawson addressed this reality when he explained how frequent uncertainty is, especially for drivers not yet firmly established in top teams.
“I think unless you’re on multi-year contracts – and even then, I think Formula 1 contracts, any contracts at the end of the day – can be made to be broken, in a way. At the end of the day, the only time you’re secure is when you’re performing, and I don’t think there’s many drivers, apart from some of the top guys, that are going to feel completely secure in the sport – but it’s not really a new feeling in any way.”
“It’s something that we are very used to. It’s something that we are, especially in the Red Bull programme, introduced to at a very young age, knowing that the only way you you step up through the ladder is by performing, and you have that pressure all the time. So it’s on a bigger scale, but it’s the same thing.”
Lawson’s comments highlight the intense pressure that all Red Bull juniors face to consistently deliver results to advance within the team’s ranks.
What lies ahead for Lawson and the Red Bull junior squad
With the 2025 season set to conclude before contracts are finalized, Lawson remains determined to show his value through performance. The Red Bull junior program’s emphasis on merit means his future depends on how effectively he can convert opportunities into points for Racing Bulls. The team’s aspiration to climb the Constructors’ standings provides a collective objective to strive towards, and Lawson’s commitment to these goals will play a crucial role in his career progression.
As talks continue within the Red Bull ecosystem, Lawson’s next steps remain uncertain but spotlight the highly competitive nature of Formula 1 development pathways. His ability to rebound from recent setbacks and maintain consistent scoring could be decisive not only for his tenure with Racing Bulls but also for any potential elevation within Red Bull’s Formula 1 hierarchy.
