Lawson Promised Priority for Next Racing Bulls Upgrade After Losing Spa Roll Hoop to Lindblad

Liam Lawson will receive automatic priority for the next single-car upgrade Racing Bulls produces, after losing out to teammate Arvid Lindblad on a new roll hoop for this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. Team principal Alan Permane confirmed Lawson's VCARB03 will get the identical chassis modification at the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest next weekend, ensuring the split-specification arrangement at Spa-Francorchamps lasts just one race.

Why it matters:

The situation underscores the logistical pressure midfield teams face when rushing major updates between races, and the delicate balancing act required to manage driver relations fairly. With margins in the constructors' championship razor-thin, even a single-race disadvantage on a performance-related component could have lasting implications for both Lawson and Lindblad.

The details:

• Lindblad secured ninth on the grid at the British Grand Prix, while Lawson managed only 10th, prompting Permane to use their Silverstone qualifying positions as the tiebreaker for who would receive the Spa upgrade.
• The update required shrinking the roll hoop, a significant chassis modification that Racing Bulls could not complete on both cars in the time available between Silverstone and Spa.
• Permane held a meeting with both drivers in Austria and presented three options: delay the upgrade entirely until Budapest for both cars, flip a coin, or let qualifying performance decide. Both drivers signed up for the competitive solution.
• Lawson will run the new, smaller roll hoop in Hungary, while Lindblad's car was fitted with the part ahead of the Spa weekend, giving him a potential aerodynamic and cooling advantage for one race.

What's next:

Permane made it clear that Lawson will automatically receive the next single-car upgrade if Racing Bulls faces a similar resource constraint later in the season, removing any uncertainty from future disputes. With the upgrade disparity lasting only one race, the team will be keen to ensure both cars are on equal footing before heading into the latter half of the 2026 campaign.