Liam Lawson had suggested the priorities within his Formula 1 career have changed, as he looks to secure his future within the Red Bull family for 2026.
While Lawson began the 2025 season in the Red Bull seat, he was quickly moved to the Racing Bulls team, switching with Yuki Tsunoda, after two non-points finishes.
Since then, he’s performed consistently over the season at the Faenza-based satellite squad, with a current points haul of 20.
However, he has been outperformed by his rookie teammate, Isack Hadjar, who took a podium in Hungary and has impressed the team and spectators alike.
While both have been a part of the Red Bull family throughout their junior careers, there seems to be a clear consensus within the team that Hadjar may be the future team-mate to Max Verstappen.
Though it doesn’t necessarily leave Lawson seatless for 2026, both he and Tsunoada are currently out of contract at the end of the season.
With two seats available, there’s no guarantee that Red Bull will look to replace one of the two.
However, Lawson, speaking ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, conveyed his hopes to have some clarity on his future soon.
“Hopefully, in the next few races. It’s obviously hard to know. We’re all chasing the dream. The first goal is getting into F1, but we’re all here to try and win,” he said.
“I spent a long time, especially joining [Red Bull] as a junior at 17, just looking at how to get to Red Bull Racing—that was where I saw my future.”
Lawson ‘mostly talking with Red Bull’ amid goal to ‘secure a seat’
Lawson made it clear that his goal is to be in a fast car and win races. Ultimately, if that’s not at Red Bull, he will look elsewhere, but needs to secure a seat first to achieve that goal.
“Not that I forgot why I do it, but that was so much of the goal,” he added.
“It’s easier now to sit back and realise the goal has always been winning and getting to the top, and it doesn’t need to be specific to where that is.
“As drivers, the main thing for us is to be in Formula 1. So we’re focused on securing a seat. Honestly, that’s my goal at the moment.”
When asked if he was looking elsewhere on the grid, Lawson said: “In terms of other teams. I think pretty much everyone is either locked in or has a pretty good idea of what they’re doing next year anyway.
“Right now, it’s mostly talking with Red Bull and trying to secure a seat where I am at the moment.
“Beyond that. I think it’s at a point where most of them [other seats] are pretty much gone. I would say.”
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