Racing Bulls podium could hand Lawson or Lindblad edge in Red Bull fight

Racing Bulls is primed to break its podium drought this season, with former IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe predicting that Liam Lawson or Arvid Lindblad will seize a top-three finish when conditions align. The result would cap an impressive run of midfield form and could prove pivotal in Red Bull's driver succession plans.

Why it matters:

A Racing Bulls podium carries significance well beyond championship points. With Max Verstappen's long-term Red Bull future still generating speculation despite his 2028 contract, the energy drink giant is weighing its options. Lawson and Lindblad are effectively auditioning for the top seat, but Formula 2 standout Nikola Tsolov is mounting pressure from the junior ranks with a dominant campaign.

The details:

• Racing Bulls has scored in all but one Grand Prix this season, collecting 66 points to sit fifth in the Constructors' standings without yet visiting the podium.
• Hinchcliffe told F1TV that a rain-affected race or strategic gamble could allow Lawson or Lindblad to repeat Isack Hadjar's 2025 Dutch Grand Prix top-three finish for the Faenza squad.
• Lawson has twice finished sixth this year, in Monaco and Britain, demonstrating consistent extraction of the car's potential.
• Tsolov leads the F2 championship with six wins from nine weekends, stoking rumors of an F1 promotion.
• Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer rejected those claims, stating Lawson and Lindblad are doing a "brilliant job" and that replacing either is "not even on the cards."

What's next:

With Verstappen now expected to stay at Red Bull rather than activate his exit clause and join McLaren, the immediate path to the senior team may be blocked. That leaves Lawson and Lindblad fighting to prove they deserve the seat when it eventually opens, while keeping Tsolov at bay. A fortuitous podium in the remaining races might just provide the tiebreaker.