Liam Lawson not thinking about a return to Red Bull
Photo:
MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson said he is concentrating on performing for his Racing Bulls team and is not thinking about a potential return to Red Bull.
Formula 1 is on a four week summer break with round 15 in the Netherlands at the end of August.
The 23-year-old started the season in the second Red Bull seat alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
However he was dumped after two rounds and
forced to swap seats with Yuki Tsunoda.
Since picking up his first points at Monaco in May, Lawson has accumulated 20 points and sits 15th in the Drivers' Championship, while Tsunoda has failed to pick up any points in that time and is 18th in the standings.
Lawson and Racing Bull team-mate Isack Hadjar have both shown consistency recently and their names have now been mentioned as possible drivers alongside Verstappen in Red Bull's top team in 2026.
With engine supplier Honda leaving Red Bull next year it has been suggested that they may take Tsunoda with them to Aston Martin.
"Honestly, in terms of my future, it's been so busy this year that I'm not really thinking about it," Lawson told PlanetF1.com.
"I'm focused on having some good races. Obviously, we've had some recently, but three of them isn't enough over 12 races, or however many it's been, so we need to do more of this, and then we'll see."
New Zealand F1 driver Liam Lawson.
Photo:
MPS AGENCY / PHOTOSPORT
Lawson was the best placed of all the Red Bull-supported drivers at this month's Hungarian Grand Prix. He finished eighth, just ahead of Verstappen with Hadjar 11th and Tsunoda 17th.
New Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane said he had been impressed by Lawson's progress since his breakthrough result (sixth) in Austria.
Tsunoda's struggles meanwhile in the top team this year opens up all options for that seat in 2026.
There are unlikely to be any changes this season, but Red Bull have shown that they can be cut-throat after dropping Lawson in March and
tossing aside team principal Christian Horner
last month.
Hadjar appeared the obvious choice to move up to Red Bull, but he has been matched by Lawson in recent races. The Frenchman has been urged to stay with Racing Bulls to work on his craft before taking over one of the top cars which are obviously harder to drive.
The team does have two potential debutants in reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa and Red Bull junior driver Arvid Lindblad who won the
Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand
last summer.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is a big supporter of 18-year-old Lindblad.
There are also a number of veteran drivers who don't have seats confirmed for next year.
More success for Lawson over the remaining 10 rounds and anything is possible.
Racing Bulls F1 lineup (L to R) Iasck Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Laurent Mekies.
Photo:
ANTONIN VINCENT / AFP
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