Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson's seat for 2027 was still open at the start of November 2026. On 1 November, RacingNews365 reported that the New Zealander’s future in F1 “is far from certain” and he “is yet to be offered a new contract for next year” [5]. The same piece quoted Karun Chandhok, speaking on Sky Sports F1 during practice in Mexico, who said that losing the seat “would be one of the most unjust sackings in F1” [5].

From New Zealand karts to Formula 2

Lawson won two New Zealand karting national titles in 2014 [8]. In 2016 he won the New Zealand F1600 Championship as its youngest ever champion, with 14 wins [8]. In 2017 he moved to Australian Formula 4 with Team BRM and finished runner-up with five wins [8]. The following year he raced in ADAC Formula 4 for Van Amersfoort Racing, again as runner-up, with three wins [8]. He then joined the Red Bull Junior Team [11].

In 2019 he won the New Zealand Toyota Racing Series, finished second in the Euroformula Open and raced in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with MP Motorsport, where he finished 11th with 41 points and two podiums [8]. In 2020 he moved to Hitech Grand Prix in Formula 3, won three races and finished fifth with 143 points [8].

Formula 2 followed in 2021 with Hitech. The FIA lists him 11th in the drivers' standings, with one win in the first Sakhir Sprint Race [9]. RacingNews365 gives his finish as ninth [8]. In 2022 he moved to Carlin, won three sprint races and finished third with 149 points [9]. In 2023 he raced in Japan's Super Formula for Team Mugen and finished runner-up [10], with three wins [8].

Stepping in for Ricciardo

Lawson made his F1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who had broken his hand [1]. He qualified 19th and finished 13th [11]. He was back for the Singapore Grand Prix, finishing ninth for his first two F1 points [1] [7]. That season he also raced at Monza, Suzuka and Lusail, finishing 11th, 11th and 17th. All five of his 2023 races were for AlphaTauri [7].

He returned in 2024 at the United States Grand Prix and scored points at Austin and at São Paulo [11] [8].

Two races at Red Bull

Lawson was announced as Sergio Pérez’s replacement at Red Bull Racing, alongside Max Verstappen [1]. After two Grands Prix, he was moved back to Racing Bulls [1]. The Honda profile says he began 2025 as a Red Bull Racing driver and moved to Racing Bulls before the Japanese Grand Prix, in a swap with Yuki Tsunoda [10]. RacingNews365 places the switch after the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix [8]. RacingNews365 tells it as a sacking from the Red Bull top team, and says he drove for Red Bull again for three races when Isack Hadjar was injured [5]. Neither the F1 profile nor RacingNews365 gives a calendar date for the switch, but both place it after two races [1] [8].

The two accounts do not match, and the sources do not settle which one is right. His best result that year was fifth at Azerbaijan [8].

Looking back in December 2025, Lawson said he had been carrying the pressure of that spell into the start of the year: “I think at the start of the year obviously I was having a lot of those thoughts with what was going on” [2]. He said the year had also made him stronger: “there are a lot of things that happened this year that have made me a lot stronger” [2].

Keeping the Racing Bulls seat for 2026

Lawson learned he would stay at Racing Bulls just after the Qatar race in late 2025, when team principal Alan Permane told him [2]. His first reaction was relief: “It’s probably more relief than anything right now” [2]. He said he was pleased to spend the off-season “with a proper plan” [2].

The 2026 season

His teammate at Racing Bulls in 2026 is Arvid Lindblad, a rookie [8]. The official results list 18 Grand Prix starts for Lawson in 2026: 15 for Racing Bulls and three for Red Bull Racing, at the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix [6]. His best finish was fifth at Monaco, which Motorsport Week described as equalling his career best [12]. The F1 driver profile lists 77 points and ninth place in the standings, with 70 points from Grands Prix and seven from Sprints [1]. Lawson told Motorsport Week: “I’ve had a really good first half of the year” [12].

Contract talks in 2026

By June 2026 the question had moved on to the next contract. Lawson said: “It’s very early days for those kinds of conversations, but I’m honestly very happy, and we’re all pretty happy” [3]. He said he felt “in a good place” and had learned a lot over the previous 12 months [3].

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said of Lawson’s season: “I think he’s done a very good job” [4]. The RacingNews365 report describes Permane’s position as a difficult choice between three strong drivers for two race seats, paraphrasing him rather than quoting him [5].

In September 2026, PlanetF1 reported Permane’s view on timing: “We traditionally wait a little bit longer. We’re under no pressure to announce what we’re doing yet next year” [13]. He also said he had “two fantastic drivers in Liam and Arvid” [13]. The same report quoted Permane on Nikola Tsolov: “Nikola, of course, features in our thoughts” [13].

On 19 October 2026, Lawson told Motorsport Week that the question of his seat was “honestly not really what I’m thinking about now”. He said the team was “well in the fight for P5” in the Constructors’ Championship [12].