Liam Lawson's F1 Future Beyond Red Bull Looks Limited

Liam Lawson's Formula 1 future appears increasingly uncertain, with the driver hinting that his path might lie outside the Red Bull stable, though options for 2026 are already scarce. After a brief and unsuccessful stint at Red Bull Racing at the start of 2025, where he replaced Sergio Perez only to be demoted back to Racing Bulls, Lawson is now facing a significant crossroads in his career.

Why it matters:

Lawson's journey highlights the cutthroat nature of the Red Bull driver program and the immense pressure young talents face. His predicament underscores how quickly an F1 opportunity can arise and vanish, forcing drivers to consider options beyond their initial developmental teams. For Red Bull, the constant reshuffling reflects their ongoing quest for a championship-caliber partner for Max Verstappen.

The Details:

• Turbulent 2025 Season: Lawson was promoted to Red Bull Racing as Sergio Perez's replacement at the beginning of 2025 but was unceremoniously dropped after just two races, swapping seats with Yuki Tsunoda, who moved to Red Bull Racing.
• Tsunoda's Struggles: Yuki Tsunoda has also struggled to match Max Verstappen's performance, leading to speculation that Isack Hadjar is now the frontrunner to partner Verstappen for the 2026 season. This could see Tsunoda either return to Racing Bulls or exit the Red Bull family entirely.
• Racing Bulls Contenders: Red Bull's F2 junior Arvid Lindblad is strongly linked with a promotion to Racing Bulls. The team is expected to finalize its 2026 driver line-up decisions before the end of the current season.
• Lawson's Outlook: Lawson's name has not been in contention for a return to Red Bull Racing or Racing Bulls. He admitted that he might need to look "elsewhere" for a chance to win, expressing that his ultimate goal is "winning and getting to the top," regardless of the team. However, outside of Red Bull's four-backed seats, only the second Alpine seat is currently perceived as available.
• Limited 2026 Options: "I think pretty much everyone is either locked in or has a pretty good idea of what they're doing next year anyway," Lawson told RacingNews365, emphasizing the scarcity of open seats.

What's next:

Lawson's immediate focus remains on securing a seat, preferably within F1. With most teams having their 2026 lineups largely settled, his options appear to be narrowing. If no viable F1 seat materializes, he may need to consider alternative racing categories or a reserve driver role while hoping for a future opportunity. Red Bull's decision on its 2026 Racing Bulls lineup will be a key indicator of his short-term prospects within the Red Bull ecosystem.

If the Alpine seat is truly his last viable F1 option outside Red Bull, his team will need to act swiftly to secure it. Otherwise, a talented driver might find himself on the sidelines despite having previously shown flashes of potential.