Tsolov decision 'in a few months' leaves Lawson waiting on 2027 seat

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has confirmed that a decision on Nikola Tsolov's 2027 plans will be made 'in a few months,' leaving Liam Lawson waiting on his Racing Bulls future.

Why it matters:

Tsolov's rapid rise through the Red Bull junior ranks could disrupt the stable driver lineup at Racing Bulls. With Lawson and Arvid Lindblad yet to be officially confirmed for 2027, the team's long-term view on the Bulgarian suggests a potential shake-up is on the horizon, even if PlanetF1.com understands the current pairing is expected to be retained.

The details:

• Championship leader: Tsolov tops the F2 standings by seven points ahead of the Azerbaijan round, impressing Red Bull with his on-track progress and simulator work in Milton Keynes.
• Reserve role likely: The 19-year-old could combine reserve duties with a race seat in Super Formula, a proven path to F1 taken by Lawson and Pierre Gasly.
• Senior team settled: Red Bull confirmed Isack Hadjar will stay alongside Max Verstappen for 2027, leaving the Racing Bulls seats as the only open question.
• Lawson's situation: The New Zealander is back in the Racing Bulls cockpit this weekend after Hadjar recovered from a wrist injury. Lawson scored points in two of his three Red Bull appearances, with a best finish of sixth at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid.
• Mekies' view: The team principal said Red Bull is taking a 'long-term view' on Tsolov, with a final decision expected in a few months.

What's next:

Mekies stressed that Tsolov should focus on his triple-header weekend in Baku, with the team expected to make a final call on his programme in a few months. For Lawson, the wait continues – but the expectation is that both he and Lindblad will be kept on for 2027, leaving Tsolov to continue his development away from the F1 grid.