Liam Lawson is having a strong season with Racing Bulls, currently holding the 'best of the rest' position in the driver standings, behind only those from the top four teams. This performance aligns with expectations, given the Racing Bulls' car is on average the fifth quickest this season and Lawson is the more experienced of their two drivers.
However, Lawson's long-term future in Formula 1, particularly for the 2027 season, faces challenges. His rookie teammate, Arvid Lindblad, is already proving to be a close match in performance. While Lindblad trails by 20 points in the championship, there is little to distinguish between them on pure pace, with Lindblad even slightly ahead on average speed by 0.017 seconds.
Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane noted that the team has "two quick guys" who are "incredibly close" in performance. Lawson also faces the shadow of his 2025 demotion from Red Bull to Racing Bulls after two poor races alongside Max Verstappen, where he was subsequently beaten by Isack Hadjar.
The approach of Red Bull's new leadership, including team principal Laurent Mekies and soon-to-be head of the young driver programme Gwen Lagrue, regarding Lawson's future remains to be seen. Formula 1 cars are set to return to the track next week for the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, scheduled from 21-23 August.