Liam Lawson Set to Stay at Racing Bulls for 2027 Season

Liam Lawson has driven himself into a strong position for the 2027 season after posting a pair of seventh-place finishes in Mexico and Brazil. The New Zealander’s consistent pace, which includes 89 points as the highest scorer outside the top four teams, has made him an indispensable asset for Racing Bulls’ historic push toward fifth place in the constructors’ championship. This result would be the Anglo-Italian team’s best-ever finish and carries millions of dollars in extra prize money. With the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend approaching next week, sources indicate a final decision is close but not yet signed off. The Race reports that Lawson is now set to stay put, with Nikola Tsolov coming on board as a reserve driver instead of taking the full-time seat.

The pendulum swings back

The situation had been on a knife edge for weeks, with Red Bull weighing the value of a proven veteran against the promise of its junior program. Team principal Alan Permane, who recently inked a fresh deal until 2031, has been extremely supportive of Lawson, arguing that the team needs experience to measure young talent like Arvid Lindblad. "The main factors are, as always, pace and speed," Permane said in Sao Paulo, emphasizing that they are here to bring young talent through but need a solid benchmark to gauge their progress. However, the Austrian parent company is particularly excited by Tsolov’s promise as the F2 frontrunner, creating a clear tension between immediate performance and long-term development.

Lawson’s redemption at Interlagos appears to have sealed his position, making it almost impossible for Red Bull to justify dropping him after such a strong campaign. In treacherous rain conditions, he started third after grid penalties for George Russell and Charles Leclerc, overtook Lando Norris early to run as high as second, and finished eighth on the road before being promoted to seventh after Leclerc was penalised. He took the blame for a key error in Q3 where he caught Fernando Alonso, noting that the cars have a lot of horsepower and not much grip, which caused him to abort his optimal lap. This honest assessment of his mistake alongside the race result demonstrated the maturity that Permane values so highly.

Waiting for the shareholders’ nod

Despite the team’s apparent preference, the final sign-off rests with Red Bull’s main shareholders, a process that has left Lawson anxious and without other options. Rumors linking him to a replacement role for Alex Albon at Williams were quickly shot down, leaving the New Zealander relying entirely on this single decision. "It’s the end of the season. When something like this is pushed all the way to the end, you’re left with not really any options," Lawson told F1 TV, highlighting the pressure of waiting while trying to enjoy driving the car. He acknowledged the support from fans flooding the squad’s social media channels but admitted he is just trying to see what happens.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies insisted he does not have a direct say in the final call, stating that the decision is down to Racing Bulls, though he praised Lawson’s fantastic run since returning to the team. A logical outcome involves Lawson and Lindblad racing in 2027, with Tsolov fulfilling a reserve driver role embedded in the team and taking part in all four rookie practice outings. This arrangement allows the 19-year-old to benefit from a full year of private testing and simulator work while keeping the experienced driver who helped secure the team’s best-ever championship position.

Permane offered a cryptic message about the final choice, saying, "I’m sure when we announce it in the coming weeks, everyone will be happy." It would be unusual for the shareholders to defy the team’s preference so soon after Permane committed to a new contract, especially given the financial risk of replacing a strong incumbent with an unproven rookie. The evidence strongly suggests that Lawson’s stellar season has made the case for retention, turning the potential loss of his seat into a near-impossibility for the organization to ignore.