Headline: Lawson keeps Red Bull priority but widens lens for 2026
Liam Lawson is doing what good drivers do when the walls start inching closer: performing on Sunday, then keeping his options open on Monday.
Fresh off a career-best fifth place in Baku, the Racing Bulls driver says his first choice for 2026 remains firmly inside the Red Bull system — whether that’s a step up or a stay put — but he’s no longer treating one door as the only door.
For years, Lawson made no secret of the aim: get to Red Bull Racing. That’s the rite of passage for any young driver in their academy, and for the most part, the roadmap hasn’t changed. But the 23-year-old sounds like he’s adjusted the destination’s wording.
“The goal’s always been to win,” he explained when asked about his outlook beyond this season. The badge matters less than the opportunity; the path doesn’t have to be a single line.
It’s a stance that’s hard to argue with when you scan the grid. Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz — all ex-Red Bull-associated and all still carving out meaningful careers elsewhere. If there’s a lesson in that, Lawson’s taken it.
None of this, however, means he’s plotting an exit. Far from it. With most 2026 seats already locked down or close to it, his focus is on securing his Red Bull future — either with Racing Bulls or the senior team. The internal politics will be lively enough. Isack Hadjar’s emergence has ramped up the intra-stable pressure, and Red Bull’s wider junior picture continues to churn with names like Arvid Lindblad in the background. That’s before you even get to the sport’s broader silly season swirl.
Lawson’s leverage, for now, is his form. Baku was a useful reminder of what he can do on a combative street circuit, hustling the Racing Bulls to P5 and beating quicker cars along the way. It’s the kind of result that keeps you in the meeting room when decisions get made.
Timing matters too. Asked when clarity might arrive, Lawson suggested the next few races should tell the tale. That tracks with how 2026 is shaping up — the longer you wait, the fewer chairs remain when the music stops.
Where does he sit in the here and now? The New Zealander holds 13th in the 2025 drivers’ standings, narrowly chasing teammate Hadjar in what’s become one of the paddock’s more intriguing intra-team duels. For all the talk of futures, that battle may end up being the most persuasive argument either can make.
The message from Lawson was direct: stay on the grid, stay in the game. If that’s with Red Bull, perfect. If the grid shifts and another team offers a clearer route to the sharp end, he’s listening. It’s not a hedge; it’s modern F1 career management.
As ever with Red Bull, the calculus is bigger than one driver. The energy drink giant has two teams, a famously tough driver pipeline, and a habit of making late calls. Lawson knows this system better than most. He’s also mature enough now to measure his ambitions by trophies, not just by garage doors.
Photo: Liam Lawson in the paddock in Baku
Key takeaways:
– Lawson’s priority is to remain in the Red Bull stable for 2026, ideally with a path to winning machinery.
– He’s open to opportunities elsewhere if that’s what it takes to contend at the front.
– A Baku P5 has boosted his stock at a critical moment.
– With many 2026 seats close to sealed, expect movement — or at least answers — within the next few races.
The driver market will do what it always does: shake itself into shape late and leave a few talented people sweating. Lawson’s job is to make sure he’s too valuable to leave in limbo. On current evidence, he’s doing just that.
