Liam Lawson Admits No Backup Plan If Red Bull Drops Him

Liam Lawson has admitted he has no backup plan if Red Bull decides to axe him from Racing Bulls, with the New Zealander’s 2027 future hanging in the balance as the season concludes, according to Formula 1. Speaking ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lawson conceded the late-stage decision leaves him with few options.

Lawson Concedes No Backup Plan Amid F1 Future Uncertainty

The 24-year-old’s admission comes as Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s sister team, weighs three contenders for its two 2027 seats: Lawson, his current teammate Arvid Lindblad, and Red Bull Junior Nikola Tsolov. Lawson believes his on-track performances should be enough to secure his seat, having delivered a strong campaign that includes three seventh-place finishes in Bahrain, Singapore, and Mexico. He has scored 83 points this season, placing him ninth in the drivers’ standings and giving him a commanding 42-point lead over Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

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I don’t know what else they want me to do, but yeah, it’s just one of those things at the moment, Lawson remarked, highlighting his role in helping Racing Bulls secure a commanding hold on fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. A fifth-place finish would represent the team’s best-ever result, even tracing back to their origins as Minardi.

With the majority of teams having announced their 2027 line-ups, a departure from Racing Bulls would likely force Lawson into a reserve role to remain in Formula One. He has been linked to a potential seat at Cadillac, but that connection appears tenuous at best. The American team has been focused on helping F2 driver Colton Herta earn the necessary points for a Super Licence.

Liam Lawson remains in the dark over his Formula One future. Photo / AFP — Photo: Nzherald

Lawson’s cause is bolstered by his strong record at the Interlagos circuit, where he has two points finishes in his first two visits. His recent form has also been impressive, highlighted by a charge from the pit lane to seventh place in Mexico City, a drive he considers one of the best of his career. He attributed his calm demeanour after that race to a specific practice collision with Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen rather than any pre-determined fate about his seat.

This year, I haven’t really thought about [the uncertainty] so much, but also the racing has been a lot stronger this year, Lawson explained. Outside of that, we were quick all weekend. I don’t see why we shouldn’t be quick here. I feel like it’s a track that I enjoy driving, and the car should work well.

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For me, my focus is to put myself in a position where I can be winning for one, and if I can go to a team that gives me a better chance to do that, that’s obviously what we get to do, he said, hinting that he would consider leaving the Red Bull family for a better opportunity. For now, his only plan is to continue showing his best every weekend, leaving the ultimate decision to the team.