A Strong Season Has Not Guaranteed Lawson a Future Seat
Canadian Formula 1 fans know that a driver’s performance on track does not always guarantee a place on the grid for the following season. New Zealand racer Liam Lawson is experiencing that uncertainty, despite producing a strong campaign with Racing Bulls in 2026.
Lawson has confirmed that he has received no assurance that he will keep his seat for the 2027 Formula 1 season. His future remains undecided even though he is currently the highest-placed driver outside the sport’s four leading teams.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 after the Mexico City Grand Prix, Lawson explained that he was concentrating on maximising every race weekend. He also acknowledged that his position for next year had not been guaranteed.
Lawson’s Seventh Place in Mexico Strengthened His Case
One of Lawson’s strongest performances this season came at the Mexico City Grand Prix. He finished seventh after starting from the pit lane, recovering through the field to secure valuable championship points.
The result was particularly important because his qualifying disqualification had forced him to begin the race from the pit lane. Despite that setback, he managed to finish inside the top seven.
Lawson is 24 years old and has scored more than twice as many championship points as his rookie teammate, Arvid Lindblad. His position in the standings also makes him the leading midfield driver, with only competitors from Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull ahead of him.
Those results provide a strong argument for retaining him. However, Racing Bulls has not yet officially confirmed either driver for its 2027 lineup.
Nikola Tsolov Is Emerging as a Possible Replacement
One of the biggest factors surrounding Lawson’s future is the progress of Bulgarian driver Nikola Tsolov. The 19-year-old is part of the Red Bull junior programme and is competing for the Formula 2 championship during his rookie season in the category.
Tsolov also finished as runner-up in Formula 3 last year, helping establish his reputation as a promising young racing talent. Red Bull is understood to rate him highly, and his development has brought him into discussions about a possible Formula 1 promotion.
He made his Formula 1 practice debut with Racing Bulls during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Tsolov was only one tenth of a second behind Lindblad, a performance that attracted attention from the team’s management.
His appearance was significant because Racing Bulls has yet to announce its drivers for 2027. With Tsolov demonstrating his potential in an F1 car, Lawson faces competition from another driver within the Red Bull development system.
Peter Bayer Praises Tsolov’s First F1 Practice Session
Racing Bulls chief executive Peter Bayer spoke positively about Tsolov’s performance in Mexico. In comments to Austrian broadcaster ORF, Bayer highlighted how effectively the young driver adapted to the team during his first experience in the car.
Bayer also explained that the responsibility for deciding the team’s future driver lineup rests with team principal Alan Permane. Permane will determine when the decision is ready to be announced.
When asked whether Lawson had done enough to demonstrate his ability, Bayer indicated that the general view within the paddock was that the New Zealander had performed well. However, he also emphasised Racing Bulls’ responsibility to continue developing young drivers.
Bayer said the organisation had helped bring 22 drivers into Formula 1, including Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. His comments highlighted the team’s history of promoting emerging talent while leaving the final 2027 decision with Permane.
Racing Bulls Has Yet to Confirm Its 2027 Drivers
Racing Bulls is currently the only Formula 1 team that has not officially confirmed either of its drivers for the 2027 season, according to the Sky Sports report published on November 4, 2026.
This leaves both Lawson and Lindblad waiting for clarity about their positions. Although Lawson has delivered stronger results than his rookie teammate, the team has not publicly confirmed that either driver will remain.
The uncertainty also reflects the wider Formula 1 driver market, where teams are balancing current performance with long-term plans and opportunities for younger competitors.
For Lawson, the most practical way to strengthen his position is to continue delivering consistent results during the remaining races. However, the timing of the announcement and the final choice remain with Racing Bulls management.
Other Important Decisions in the 2027 Driver Market
Lawson is not the only driver whose future remains uncertain. Sky Sports also highlighted questions involving Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Haas driver Oliver Bearman.
Bottas signed a multi-year contract with Cadillac that began at the start of 2026, but his position for 2027 was still described as uncertain. Cadillac is also evaluating Formula 2 driver Colton Herta as a potential future Formula 1 competitor.
Herta has taken part in five practice sessions with Cadillac during the 2026 season as the team works to help him collect the points required for a Formula 1 super licence. At the time of the report, he was one point short of the required total.
A driver needs 40 super licence points to qualify for a full-time Formula 1 seat. These points can be earned through results in recognised motorsport categories, including Formula 2, Formula 3 and IndyCar.
Cadillac planned to run Herta again in first practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Friday, November 6. If he completed 100 kilometres during the session, he would earn another super licence point.
Cadillac Wants to Develop an American Driver
Cadillac team principal Marcin Budkowski discussed the possibility of having an American driver as part of the team’s identity. He explained that the organisation saw value in having a competitor who could represent its American background.
However, Budkowski also stressed that choosing the right driver at the right time was important. Cadillac was still assessing its options rather than treating nationality as the only factor in its decision.
Herta’s super licence progress therefore remains an important part of Cadillac’s planning. His eligibility would allow the team to consider him for a full-time Formula 1 position, but it does not automatically mean that he will receive one.
Haas Also Has Questions About Its Future Lineup
Haas has already announced that Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara will replace Esteban Ocon for the 2027 season. However, the American team had not confirmed Oliver Bearman’s future at the time of the Sky Sports report.
Bearman, who is 21, has a contract that expires at the end of the 2026 season. Both he and team principal Ayao Komatsu had expressed confidence that an extension would be agreed.
Bearman explained that remaining with Haas was his preferred direction and that discussions were still being finalised. He also acknowledged that the timing of an announcement was not entirely under his control.
Komatsu separately rejected reports suggesting that negotiations were being delayed because Bearman had requested an annual salary of £5 million. He dismissed the claim as inaccurate and criticised the circulation of unsupported information about the negotiations.
When Will Lawson Learn His Racing Bulls Future?
The next development to watch is Racing Bulls’ official announcement about its 2027 drivers. Team principal Alan Permane is responsible for the decision, and Peter Bayer has indicated that the announcement will come when Permane considers the timing appropriate.
In the meantime, the Sao Paulo Grand Prix is the next opportunity for Lawson to demonstrate his value. Sky Sports listed the first practice session for Friday, November 6, with the session scheduled to start at 3:30pm UK time, followed by second practice at 7pm UK time.
Fans can follow Lawson’s race results and official statements from Racing Bulls to monitor developments. Until the team confirms its lineup, his future should be treated as undecided rather than assuming that either he or Tsolov has secured the position.
Lawson’s seventh-place finish in Mexico demonstrated his ability to recover from a difficult starting position and collect points. Whether that performance, together with his season-long results, will be enough to keep him at Racing Bulls is a decision that only the team can confirm.
