Full Breakdown
Liam Lawson's Future with Racing Bulls: Areas for Improvement Ahead of 2026
1/7/2026, 11:58:45 AM
Overview of Lawson's 2025 Season and Contract Renewal
Liam Lawson's performance during the 2025 Formula 1 season led to his re-signing with Racing Bulls for the 2026 season. After a challenging start, including a brief stint with Red Bull, Lawson stabilized his results, finishing with seven point-scoring finishes out of 14 races. Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer noted that Lawson's ability to stabilize his performance was crucial in the decision to retain him over Yuki Tsunoda, who will serve as the reserve driver for both Red Bull teams in 2026. Isack Hadjar, who excelled in 2025, has been promoted to replace Tsunoda.
Key Areas for Improvement
Despite Lawson's contract renewal, Bayer emphasized the need for improvement in Lawson's qualifying pace. In 2025, Lawson was outperformed by Hadjar in qualifying sessions, losing their head-to-head 16-6. While Lawson achieved a personal-best qualifying result of P3 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he only made it to Q3 eight times compared to Hadjar's 16. Bayer acknowledged that Lawson's early struggles in the season, particularly after being demoted from Red Bull, impacted his qualifying performance.
Insights from Red Bull's Leadership
Sergio Perez, who was recently dismissed from Red Bull, shared insights regarding the team's dynamics and Lawson's situation. In a podcast interview, Perez recounted a conversation with Christian Horner, Red Bull's principal, where Horner expressed confidence in the team's depth of drivers, indicating that Lawson's performance would be closely scrutinized. Perez noted that the pressure within the team was intense, particularly as it was geared towards maximizing the performance of their star driver, Max Verstappen.
Criticism of Lawson's Red Bull Tenure
Lawson's brief tenure at Red Bull was marked by difficulties, including two disappointing race weekends in Australia and China, leading to his replacement by Tsunoda before reaching the Suzuka circuit. This experience has been characterized as a challenging period for Lawson, who faced significant scrutiny regarding his performance. Despite these setbacks, Lawson's return to Racing Bulls has been viewed as a critical opportunity for him to regain his footing in the sport.
What's Next for Lawson
As Lawson prepares for the 2026 season, he aims to leverage his experience and the stability provided by Racing Bulls to enhance his qualifying performance and adapt to new regulations. The upcoming season will be pivotal for Lawson as he seeks to demonstrate his potential and solidify his position within the competitive landscape of Formula 1.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Honestly, in terms of performance, we see his performance stabilising, which I think was the most important thing for us,” — Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls
- “Despite the setback [and] having difficulties, in terms of race pace, there were a couple of races where he was faster than Isack. We need to work on his qualifying pace, but there’s a lot of potential.” — Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls
- “Speaking about his time at Red Bull coming to an end, he said: “I remember when I was on my last legs, saying goodbye to Christian.” — Sergio Perez, former Red Bull driver
- “Christian had some problems.” — Sergio Perez, former Red Bull driver
This comprehensive overview highlights the challenges and opportunities facing Liam Lawson as he embarks on the 2026 Formula 1 season with Racing Bulls.
