Liam Lawson admits no assurance of retaining Racing Bulls seat amid 2027 driver uncertainty
Liam Lawson admits no assurance of his 2027 seat as Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov emerges as a threat, while Haas dismisses Bearman salary claims.
Liam Lawson has admitted he has been given “no assurance” about retaining his seat at Racing Bulls for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The New Zealander’s future appears uncertain despite a strong campaign, as Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov emerges as a significant threat to his position.
Lawson currently stands as the highest-placed midfield driver in the F1 Drivers’ Championship. Only drivers from Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull sit ahead of him in the standings. The 24-year-old has scored more than twice as many points as team-mate and rookie Arvid Lindblad.
His recent form was underlined by a seventh-place finish in Mexico, achieved after starting from the pit lane. However, Racing Bulls remain the only F1 team that has not yet officially confirmed either of its 2027 drivers. It is understood that Lawson’s seat is under direct threat from the highly-rated Red Bull junior.
Tsolov impresses in F1 debut
Bulgarian driver Nikola Tsolov is highly rated by Red Bull as he competes for the Formula 2 title in his rookie campaign. The 19-year-old was runner-up in Formula 3 last year and made his F1 practice debut in Mexico. He finished only one tenth behind Lindblad, a performance that impressed Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer.
“Honestly, [Tsolov’s] performance on Friday was superb. It was his first time in the car, and he integrated into the team absolutely perfectly,” Bayer told Austrian outlet ORF. “Regarding the driver decision, he put in a fantastic performance.
That decision rests with [team principal] Alan [Permane], and he will make it, or rather, announce it when he feels the time is right.
When asked whether Lawson has done everything possible to prove himself, Bayer acknowledged the driver’s efforts. “That’s the general consensus in the paddock,” Bayer stated. “At the same time, our role, as the leading developer of talent in Formula 1, is to continuously bring new drivers through.
Bayer noted that the team has brought 22 drivers into Formula 1, including the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. “That’s why I say that, at the end of the day, the decision lies with Alan,” he added. “And he will make the right choice for the team.
We chatted about that briefly on Saturday.
Lawson responds to seat uncertainty
Lawson addressed the situation with characteristic restraint during an interview with Sky Sports F1. “I’m trying my best. Every weekend I’m trying to maximise,” Lawson said.
“In Mexico I gave it everything. There’s definitely no assurance at the moment [for next year].
The driver acknowledged the competitive nature of the sport. “It’s a tough sport. Right now, I don’t know what else to say, really,” Lawson admitted.
His comments highlight the precarious nature of seats in the current Formula 1 landscape.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas’ future at Cadillac is also up in the air despite signing a multi-year contract that began at the start of this year. The team is keen for Formula 2 driver Colton Herta to qualify for a super licence, which would make him eligible for a full-time F1 seat.
Cadillac and Haas driver moves
Cadillac have run Herta in five practice sessions this season to help him gain super licence points. The American is now just one point away from earning the licence, which requires 40 points collected from racing in other motorsport categories. Cadillac are set to run Herta again in first practice this Friday at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
“If he drives 100km, he will pick up another super licence point,” the team confirmed. Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski emphasised the importance of having an American driver. “It is important (for Cadillac to have an American driver).
It’s an American team, it races under an American flag,” Budkowski said.
“I think you’ve seen in Austin that we’re building a strong American identity as well. It’s great to have an American driver, it increases the hype,” he added. “But it’s also a question of timing.
The right driver, when the team is ready for it, and so we’re assessing this.
Haas recently announced that Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara will replace Esteban Ocon next year. However, the team did not confirm Oliver Bearman’s seat, leaving some uncertainty regarding the 21-year-old’s future. Both Bearman and Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu have expressed confidence that a deal will be finalised to extend his contract, which expires at the end of the 2026 season.
“There are a few things in the background that we’re working on, but it’s been very clear that continuing with Haas will be my target, and we’re just finalising a few things on that front,” Bearman said. He insisted that a deal would have been finalised by this point if it was entirely up to him.
“It’s not really in my hands, I can tell you that. If it was up to me, it would have already been announced a long time ago,” Bearman added. “But there are a few bigger-picture things that we’re working on.
Komatsu furiously dismissed reports claiming that contract extension talks with Bearman are being held up by the British driver demanding a £5m annual salary. “I have no idea where that comes from,” he said. “I’ve experienced this sometimes this season as well.
People say there’s no smoke without fire but really some people will invent a story.
“What happened in Miami? Apparently, I had an argument with (Bearman’s team-mate) Esteban Ocon. There’s just absolutely zero truth in it and even those people claiming that they had some insider information etc, absolute total nonsense,” Komatsu stated.
“This one again I don’t know who smoked up this six-million euros number. The first time I saw it on Instagram, or Stu [Morrison, Haas press officer] forwarded it to me, and I was just like, ‘oh another great… somebody has come up and stirred up whatever’.
“I have no comments to make because it’s just not even close to the truth. Why do we engage in such an absolute nonsense? What’s the point of it?
he concluded. Formula 1 next heads to Brazil for the final leg of the triple header with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend.
Eli Nathan
Eli Nathan covers Wales news, politics, community stories, and sports for The National Wales (thenational.wales).
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