Free extension for sports fans
Advertisement
Advertisement

Liam Lawson dilemma amplifies Racing Bulls’ identity crisis

Racing Bulls has the good problem of three viable drivers for two F1 seats, but what Red Bull does with Liam Lawson will be symbolic of a larger struggle.

Published: Wednesday, 28 October 2026 at 7:00 PM
Liam Lawson dilemma amplifies Racing Bulls’ identity crisis
Key Things to Know
  • Samuel Coop argues Racing Bulls faces an identity crisis over whether to retain Liam Lawson or promote junior Nikola Tsolov.
  • Lawson sits ninth in the drivers' standings with 77 points across stints with Racing Bulls and Red Bull.
  • Helmut Marko suggested that under the team's traditional talent-development approach, Lawson's seat should go to Tsolov.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Samuel Coop argues that Racing Bulls faces an identity crisis regarding whether to re-sign in-form driver Liam Lawson or promote junior talent Nikola Tsolov for 2027. Lawson has scored 77 points this season, comfortably placing him ninth in the drivers' standings while racing for Racing Bulls and briefly deputizing for Isack Hadjar at Red Bull.

Coop contends that retaining Lawson would prove Racing Bulls is an independent entity aiming to be best of the rest rather than just a Red Bull junior team. He notes that while Helmut Marko favored Tsolov under the traditional farm-system approach, Lawson has fully earned a contract extension alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad.

Advertisement

Never Miss a Sports Update

Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.

No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.