Racing Bulls keeps Lawson future on hold
Speedcafe.com · Ben Waterworth · 2026-08-21T20:26:52+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Neither driver is currently confirmed beyond the end of the season, with Red Bull’s junior ranks continuing to provide further options should the team elect to make another change next year.
However, Bayer said Max Verstappen’s newly confirmed Red Bull deal had helped bring stability across the wider operation and there was no pressure to make an immediate decision.
“Yes, great news on Max, honestly, because that’s obviously calming the whole system down,” Bayer said at Zandvoort.
“And at the same time, we are very happy with both Liam and Arvid and the job they’re doing. So we’re not in a rush.
“We have a good pool of drivers coming up through the junior program. So I guess Alan really wants to keep everyone calm, everyone focused, and he will decide when the perfect moment is to inform the drivers and everyone here.”
Lawson has been the subject of renewed speculation over his place within the Red Bull system this season despite producing his strongest sustained run of form since becoming a full-time F1 driver last season.
Reports earlier this year suggested Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov could be in line for an F1 seat in 2027, potentially putting pressure on one of the existing Racing Bulls drivers.
Team principal Alan Permane previously dismissed claims Tsolov had already been guaranteed a seat but acknowledged last month that the Bulgarian had positioned himself at the head of Red Bull’s junior queue.
“He’s doing incredibly well,” Permane said at the time.
“To say he’s on the radar would be a little bit of an understatement. He’s next in line, I think is fair to say.”
Lindblad has meanwhile impressed during his rookie campaign alongside Lawson, giving Racing Bulls two drivers regularly capable of fighting towards the front of the midfield.
The pair’s longer-term futures have temporarily taken a back seat at Zandvoort after Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury triggered a reshuffle between Red Bull’s two teams.
Lawson was called up to replace Hadjar at Red Bull for the weekend, while reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda returned to Racing Bulls to partner Lindblad.
Bayer said he first learned of Hadjar’s injury late last week before a final decision on the revised driver line-up was made on Tuesday.
“Look, it was late last week when I learned about the injury,” he said.
“Then, obviously, the phone started ringing, a couple of phone calls, and then Tuesday the decision was taken on how we will go into this weekend.
“In terms of changes, honestly, I think as much as we do not like these things to happen, once it happens, we know what to do. You follow sort of the ‘check book’, I guess.
“The biggest change really was for Yuki’s travel plans, to get him back from Greece and into the simulator, to give him the biggest support we can.”
Lawson revealed on Thursday that he had barely landed back in the United Kingdom following the summer break when Permane called to tell him his plans had changed.
His return gives him another opportunity in the senior Red Bull team more than a year after losing the seat, although Bayer said the temporary promotion was simply part of the role Racing Bulls plays in developing drivers for the wider organisation.
“Yeah, all the boys are Red Bull drivers, and so in the end for them to get into a car that’s faster, that’s made to fight with the other top teams, is always an interesting opportunity,” Bayer said.
“I guess it’s part of our job as Racing Bulls. We’re the biggest talent incubator on the grid. We’ve developed more than 20 drivers over the years, and so they’re ready.
“I think he will enjoy that as much as Yuki does to be back in the car.”
Lindblad was not considered as an alternative for Hadjar’s seat, with Bayer stressing Racing Bulls wanted the rookie to remain focused on his development rather than place him into an unfamiliar Red Bull at a circuit he had never raced at.
“No. Look, he’s still in his rookie season,” Bayer said when asked whether Lindblad had been discussed.
“He’s never driven around here and we really want him to focus on his career performance. So no, that was not a discussion.”
Lawson will line up 11th for the sprint race in Zandvoort, one place behind Lindblad.