Lawson's Stellar Singapore Weekend Leaves Racing Bulls Future Uncertain

Liam Lawson had reasons to celebrate after the Singapore Grand Prix, where he scored 10 points for Racing Bulls across the Sprint and Grand Prix. The New Zealander's performance was commendable, but whether it's enough to secure his seat for 2027 remains a question mark.

Lawson, who qualified eighth for the Sprint, managed to navigate the chaotic final lap to finish fifth, deftly avoiding the spinning McLarens. His ability to stay composed in the mixed wet and dry conditions was evident. In the main race, he reached Q3 and executed key overtakes early on, eventually holding off challenges from Audi's Nico Hulkenberg and Mercedes' George Russell to finish eighth.

Reflecting on his performance, Lawson expressed pride in his team's efforts: "Very happy and very proud of the team. It's been a pretty intense few weeks, and as a team, we've scored in all three races." He added, "Personally, I probably should've scored in all three as well, but it's great to have the last few weekends go to plan."

As for his future with Racing Bulls, Lawson remained non-committal. When asked about his chances of staying with the team, he quipped, "You tell me!" Team Principal Alan Permane has stated that the decision on the 2027 driver lineup will be made soon, with Formula 2's Nikola Tsolov also in the running alongside Lawson and Arvid Lindblad.

Lindblad, in his rookie season, has shown promise, collecting 38 points to place himself in the top half of the Drivers' Championship. However, recent performances have left him less than satisfied. After a collision with Lawson in Baku, Lindblad managed a seventh-place finish, followed by a single point in Bahrain, but failed to score in Singapore after a rough start saw him drop from tenth to fifteenth place.

Reflecting on his Singapore race, Lindblad acknowledged a need to review his start procedures. "I need to review the procedure," he admitted. "I don’t know if I messed it up or what, but the start was shocking. I got swarmed into Turn 1 and had to brake because it all sort of pinched up." Despite the setbacks, he remains focused on understanding and improving his performance with the team before the next race in Austin.

While Lawson basks in the glow of a successful Singapore outing, the uncertainty surrounding Racing Bulls' driver lineup for next season continues. The team, and its drivers, are set for an intriguing few weeks as decisions loom.