Liam Lawson’s future in Formula One is said to depend on whether Max Verstappen stays with Red Bull because Racing Bulls have reportedly already guaranteed Formula 2 driver Nikola Tsolov a seat for 2027. Tsolov, 19, joined the Red Bull Junior Team last year after leaving the Alpine Academy and is currently second in the championship, having won three of the opening ten races in his first full season since stepping up from Formula 3.
Arvid Lindblad and Lawson are only under contract with Racing Bulls for the current season, with one of them seemingly set to make way for Tsolov next year, unless Verstappen frees up a seat at Red Bull. They promoted Isack Hadjar to replace Yuki Tsunoda, and Lindblad would appear to be in line for promotion if the four-time world champion decides to move on.
SoyMotor claims that there is an agreement for Tsolov to take one of the Racing Bulls seats next season, with an agreement already in place. The reports add that Lawson would be the odd one out if Verstappen remains, describing the New Zealander as superfluous in such a scenario.
Clarity on the situation may come as soon as next month, with the Dutchman’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen, recently telling BILD: “We want the decision to be made soon so that everyone knows where they stand. It could fall before the summer break.”
He also told the German publication: “We have a contract until 2028. Of course, there are exit clauses, which have always existed, but we have never redeemed one. On the contrary, we have always been loyal and will remain so. We want to continue on the path with Red Bull and Max to end his career here – but of course with the possibility of winning.”
Verstappen cut a frustrated figure last time out in Barcelona after finishing almost 17 seconds behind Lando Norris, who took the final podium place ahead of the fourth-placed Dutchman. He described his afternoon afterwards as “pretty lonely to be honest, for me the whole race. There was not so much going on – I was mainly just following the battle ahead on the screens, because for me, we were just too slow.
“On every [tyre] compound we couldn’t follow, so every stint we lost a few seconds. A little bit tough, but on the other hand, it’s also pretty much how the whole weekend was, I guess. On every compound, I’m just lacking a little bit, so we tried to do our best. I think strategy-wise we did a good job – it was the winning strategy, so we cannot complain about that. We just need to work harder and try to improve the car.”
Verstappen concluded that they are left “with clear areas where we need to improve. The car’s lacking in some places, but at the same time I think also tyre management, we’re still a bit behind when you have the high-energy tracks, so that’s stuff we need to work on.”