Liam Lawson Identifies Racing Bulls' Key Missing Element in Top Four Battle

Liam Lawson has been carving out a solid reputation for himself in the 2026 Formula 1 season, securing the 'best of the rest' status behind the leading teams. Currently ninth in the driver standings, he's trailing behind the likes of Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren. At the recent United States Grand Prix, Lawson clinched a commendable ninth place, further boosting his points tally.

Alan Permane, Racing Bulls' team principal, expressed his admiration for Lawson's performance, which helped the team maintain its fifth position in the constructors' standings. With 77 points to his name, Lawson's contributions have been vital for the Faenza-based outfit.

When asked by Juan Pablo Montoya on F1TV what Racing Bulls lack to challenge the top four, Lawson was quite clear: "Downforce. Honestly, just more load, I think is the biggest thing." He elaborated, "In this category, that's what you need."

Despite this shortcoming, Lawson praised the team's ability to optimize their package, consistently extracting maximum performance regardless of starting positions. "The balance is very, very strong," he noted, having driven two different cars this year.

However, despite his impressive season, Lawson's future with Racing Bulls is uncertain. His contract ends this year, and with Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov making waves in F2, the team faces a tough decision for 2027. Martin Brundle has publicly stated that dropping Lawson would be 'cruel,' given his remarkable turnaround after losing his Red Bull seat in 2025.

During that difficult period, Lawson reportedly contemplated leaving F1. Yet, he rebuilt his career into a reliable midfield driver, a transformation not lost on Racing Bulls. Still, if Tsolov joins the team, Lawson might explore other opportunities, potentially with Cadillac, where Valtteri Bottas's position is under scrutiny.