Lawson's 'Stabilising Performance' Key to Securing 2026 Racing Bulls Seat

Liam Lawson has secured a 2026 contract with Racing Bulls, with CEO Peter Bayer identifying his "stabilising performance" as the decisive factor. After returning to the team "a little shaken" from a brief stint at Red Bull, the New Zealander showed enough recovery and potential to earn his spot. This decision secures his future alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad, while his former teammate Isack Hadjar graduates to Red Bull.

Why it matters:

Lawson's retention demonstrates the value of resilience within the high-pressure Red Bull driver ecosystem. It confirms Racing Bulls' role as a crucial environment for drivers to rebuild confidence and prove their worth, while also solidifying the team's 2026 lineup with an experienced driver to guide a rookie.

The details:

• CEO Peter Bayer stated that Lawson's "performance stabilising" was the "most important factor" in the decision to retain him for 2026.
• Lawson returned to Racing Bulls "a little shaken" after his short, challenging stint with the senior Red Bull team, but the team's culture facilitated a smooth reintegration.
• While initially outperformed by rookie teammate Isack Hadjar, Lawson's race pace improved significantly as the season progressed, allowing him to match and occasionally surpass his teammate in equal machinery.
• Bayer noted that qualifying pace remains an area for development, but the team sees "a lot of potential" in Lawson for the upcoming season.

What's next:

Lawson will partner 2026 rookie Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls, positioning him as the team's experienced driver. His focus will be on translating his strong race pace into consistently competitive qualifying results to maximize his potential and potentially position himself for another opportunity at the top level.