Racing Bulls demands consistency from Lawson to secure his F1 future

Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane has issued a clear directive to Liam Lawson: eliminate performance inconsistencies to prove he is indispensable for the team's 2026 plans. While praising the New Zealander's raw talent and flashes of brilliance, Permane emphasized that securing his seat long-term hinges on delivering reliably strong results, not just occasional highlights.

Why it matters:

Lawson is viewed as a key asset within the Red Bull driver ecosystem, and his development is critical for Racing Bulls' ambitions to become a consistent midfield contender. With the 2026 regulation reset approaching, drivers who demonstrate both speed and reliability will be at a premium. This season serves as a pivotal audition for Lawson to cement his place in Formula 1 beyond being a highly-rated substitute.

The details:

• High Expectations: Permane explicitly stated his goal is for Lawson to perform so well that the team feels compelled to keep him, saying, "I want him to deliver so that we think, wow, we've got to hang on to this guy."
• Recognized Talent: The team boss highlighted specific examples of Lawson's potential, including a standout third-place qualifying in Baku and sixth on the grid in Las Vegas, alongside strong race performances in Spa, Hungary, and Austria.
• The Consistency Problem: The primary focus is eradicating unexplained performance drops. Permane noted that "sometimes inexplicably, he will go out and Q1," creating a pattern the team needs to understand and fix.
• Team Support: Racing Bulls is actively working with Lawson to address this inconsistency, with Permane confirming, "Exactly, that's exactly what I'll be doing," regarding efforts to smooth out his results.

What's next:

The pressure is squarely on Lawson to translate his undeniable speed into a more predictable weekend-to-weekend output. If he can minimize the "poor, unexplained results," Permane believes improvement will snowball. His performance throughout the 2025 season will directly influence Racing Bulls' driver decisions for the crucial 2026 campaign, determining whether he becomes a long-term fixture or faces an uncertain future in the sport.