Red Bull Set to Confirm Liam โlawson’s F1 Future This Week
ABU DHABI, UAE – Red Bull Racing is expectedโ to announce the future โฃof New Zealand driver Liam Lawson this week, following a delayed decision regarding its 2026 driver lineup. The โฃannouncement will come amidst the final race of the โค2025โ Formula 1 season, a dramatic title showdown in Abu Dhabi.
The team initially planned to confirm its 2026 plans at the end of October, but postponed the announcement after Max โVerstappen’s championship contention intensified. Verstappen is confirmed at Red Bull Racing through 2028, leaving one seat alongside the four-time world champion open. Lawson and Yukiโฃ Tsunoda are the primary contenders for the position.
Lawson stepped intoโ red โคBull’s senior team mid-season, replacing Daniel Ricciardo after just two races, and has since secured 38 points,โค placing him 14th in the World โDriver’s Standings.โ Tsunoda trails closely behind in 15th with 33 points, though his performance has been challenged since joining the senior team.
Isack Hadjar, Lawson’s teammate in the Red Bull junior program, has reportedly secured a seat with the senior team for next year.โ Hadjar โฃdelivered consistent results, including a podium finish at Zandvoort, during his rookie campaign. 18-year-old Formulaโค 2 driver โขArvid Lindblad is expected toโ join the Racing Bulls team, fillingโ a second seat.
The decision regarding Lawson’s future is further โคcomplicated by Honda’s departure from Red Bull at the end of this season to partner with Aston Martin,and Tsunoda’s existing ties to โthe engine supplier. Tsunoda has also been linked โฃto the โAmerican IndyCar series.Prior to the Qatar Grand Prix, Tsunodaโข hinted at knowing his future plans, stating to media,โ “But most peopelโ already know it,” sounding despondent.
Lawson remains a strong contender, havingโ statistically outperformed Tsunoda this season. Though, โthe two drivers have been relatively even in points throughout โthe year. Hadjar expressed confidence about his โfuture in the sport during the Qatar Grandโค Prix media day, stating, “Last year I didn’t really โknow if I was going to F1, โฃand now I know I’ll be on the โคgrid next year.”
