Montoya Criticizes McLaren for Missing Out on Liam Lawson

Juan Pablo Montoya has voiced his opinion that McLaren missed a critical opportunity by not securing Liam Lawson for a future seat in Formula 1. While Lawson has been confirmed to stay with Racing Bulls for the 2027 season, Montoya believes McLaren should have offered Lawson a reserve driver role with a guaranteed race seat for 2028.

Lawson, who has been battling for his place on the F1 grid, recently extended his contract with Racing Bulls after impressing with strong performances, notably matching his career-best qualifying result of P3 in Brazil. Despite causing a stir at Red Bull due to an incident with Max Verstappen in Mexico, his subsequent results have solidified his standing as a top midfield driver.

Montoya argues that McLaren should have planned for the future by securing Lawson, especially considering their long-term commitments to Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. With Norris tied up with a lucrative contract through 2030 and Piastri signed until at least 2028, Montoya sees Lawson as a missed opportunity for McLaren to bolster their driver lineup.

As it stands, Lawson will continue with Racing Bulls alongside Arvid Lindblad, while Nikola Tsolov, a prominent F2 contender, will serve as a reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls, participating in multiple FP1 sessions and testing. Red Bull will reassess their lineup for 2028, potentially opening the door for Tsolov's F1 debut.

Montoya suggested that a reserve role at McLaren could have been a strategic move for Lawson, especially with limited openings at other teams. Haas and Cadillac were the only other potential options, with Haas yet to finalize Oliver Bearman's contract and Cadillac's future with Valtteri Bottas uncertain.

While Montoya's proposal might have left Lawson waiting until 2029 for a race seat, it would have ensured a future in F1. However, McLaren already has Leonardo Fornaroli as their reserve driver, further complicating any potential arrangement for Lawson.

In the broader context of F1's driver market, Montoya's comments highlight the challenges and strategic decisions teams face when managing driver contracts and future plans.