Liam Lawson has secured his position with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The confirmation follows weeks of evaluation regarding the team’s driver lineup.
Lawson’s retention comes after a strong performance throughout the 2026 season. He will continue to partner rookie Arvid Lindblad for the upcoming year.
The New Zealander’s future was subject to speculation, with Red Bull junior and Formula 2 contender Nikola Tsolov considered a potential replacement. Tsolov is currently second in the 2026 F2 standings with 200 points.
Tsolov has achieved six race wins in his first full Formula 2 season. He also participated in a private test with a 2025 Racing Bulls car at Imola in late August 2026.
Additionally, Tsolov made his official F1 practice debut in FP1 at the Mexico City Grand Prix on October 30, 2026, driving Lawson’s car. Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane had previously stated in July 2026 that Tsolov was “next in line” for promotion.
Lawson’s 2026 campaign has been marked by consistent points finishes in all but four of the 20 races held so far. He currently holds ninth position in the drivers’ championship with 89 points.
A significant portion of these points, 14, were earned during a three-race stint with Red Bull. Lawson stepped in for Isack Hadjar, who was sidelined with a wrist injury, at the 2026 Dutch, Italian, and Spanish Grands Prix.
His season highlights include a fifth-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix. At the recent Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lawson started third and finished seventh.
The 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was won by Lando Norris, with Max Verstappen finishing second and Isack Hadjar securing third. Mercedes clinched the Constructors’ Championship at this event.
Lawson’s consistent scoring has been crucial for Racing Bulls, positioning the team fifth in the constructors’ championship. This would represent their best-ever result in Formula 1.
The team’s leadership, under Team Principal Alan Permane, recently secured a contract extension until the end of 2031. Permane joined as Racing Director in January 2024 and was promoted to Team Principal in July 2025.
Permane also serves as Co-CEO Sporting, working alongside Co-CEO Commercial Peter Bayer. The team accumulated 46 points in 2024 and 92 points in 2025.
Lawson, born February 11, 2002, has been a member of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2019. He made his Formula 1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, substituting for an injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri.
He scored his maiden F1 points at the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix. Lawson was promoted to Red Bull for the 2025 season but was demoted after two races, returning to Racing Bulls.
Arvid Lindblad, a British-Swedish driver born August 8, 2007, is in his rookie F1 season. He currently sits 11th in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship with 38 points after 19 rounds.
Lindblad made his F1 debut at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, finishing eighth and becoming the third youngest driver to score points. He was the youngest race winner in Formula 2 history in 2025.
“I’m very happy to be continuing with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls next year,” Lawson stated. “We’ve had a brilliant season together and the team has worked very hard to produce a fast car, which I’ve loved driving.”
Lindblad also expressed satisfaction with the continuity. “I’m very happy to be continuing with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls in 2027,” Lindblad said. “Looking back on my first season in Formula 1, it’s been a truly special year, full of new experiences and learnings since the very first pre-season test.”
The 2027 driver market has seen several confirmations, including Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri at McLaren, and Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar at Red Bull.
