Liam Lawson has articulated a shift in his Formula 1 ambitions, moving beyond a singular focus on securing a seat with the Red Bull senior team. The Racing Bulls driver has completed a strong first half of the 2026 season, currently holding ninth place in the Drivers’ Championship.
Lawson has scored 43 points across 11 Grands Prix, marking a significant improvement over his 2025 season performance. He has achieved points finishes in eight of the 11 races contested so far this year.
His best results during the current campaign include two sixth-place finishes at the Monaco and British Grands Prix. Lawson also secured a fifth-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The New Zealander stated his mindset has evolved from a specific goal of joining Red Bull Racing. He now aims to compete at the front and win in Formula 1, regardless of the team.
‘I think [my mindset] used to be, obviously, very specific: coming into Red Bull and trying to get to the top team. When I came into F1, and when I was young, that was really where my head was at, or what I thought about. But I think now, honestly, it’s not specific. Like everybody else, I’m working towards being at the front and winning in Formula 1, and where that is, I have no idea. And I’m not too fussed about it, but that’s what I’m working towards.’
Racing Bulls, with Lawson and rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad, currently occupies fifth position in the Constructors’ Championship with 66 points. This places them five points ahead of Alpine, their primary midfield competitor.
The team’s VCARB 03 car, powered by the new Red Bull Ford Powertrains unit, initially faced challenges with erratic calibration and power-delivery glitches during pre-season testing. However, a rapid development cycle allowed the team to quickly extract performance from the car.
The 2026 season introduced significant technical regulations, including revised hybrid engines and new aerodynamic rules. These changes mandate a nearly 50:50 split between internal combustion engine and electric power, a shift from the previous 80:20 ratio.
The Energy Recovery System (ERS) capacity has nearly tripled, increasing from 120 kW to approximately 350 kW, with a target of recovering up to 8.5 MJ per lap. The Motor Generator Unit – Heat (MGU-H) has been removed to simplify power units.
Cars are more compact this season, with the wheelbase reduced by 200 mm to 3400 mm and width by 100 mm to 1900 mm. Minimum weight has also decreased by 30 kg to 768 kg.
Active aerodynamics on both front and rear wings have replaced the Drag Reduction System (DRS). A new manual electric power boost function is available for overtaking.
Lawson attributes his improved consistency this season to greater experience, enhanced preparation, and a more robust personal routine. The 2026 season marks his first with a full pre-season program with Racing Bulls.
Leadership changes within the Red Bull organisation occurred midway through the 2025 season. Laurent Mekies was promoted to CEO and Team Principal of Red Bull Racing in July 2025, replacing Christian Horner.
Mekies had previously led the Racing Bulls team for 18 months. Following his departure, Alan Permane was appointed Team Principal of Racing Bulls, stepping up from his role as Racing Director.
Permane joined Racing Bulls as Racing Director in 2024, bringing extensive experience from a career in Formula 1 that began with Benetton in 1989. Lawson has noted Permane’s engineering background as beneficial for deep discussions on car performance.
Lawson’s previous stint with the Red Bull senior team occurred at the start of the 2025 season, where he partnered Max Verstappen after replacing Sergio Pérez. This was a short-lived experiment, lasting only two races.
He qualified eighteenth and retired from the season-opening Australian Grand Prix due to a crash in changing conditions. In China, he qualified last for both the sprint and main race, finishing fourteenth and twelfth respectively.
Following these performances, Red Bull initiated discussions to replace him with Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson was subsequently demoted back to Racing Bulls from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards in 2025, partnering Isack Hadjar.
Helmut Marko, Red Bull adviser, acknowledged that the team ‘made a mistake’ in promoting Lawson so early in his career, stating he ‘lost confidence and [couldn’t] show his real potential’.
Lawson maintains that he does not dwell on the past, including the circumstances of his Red Bull demotion. He views the tough 2025 season as a significant learning experience that has made him a stronger driver and individual.
His current focus remains on his performance with Racing Bulls and securing a future in Formula 1. Lawson’s personal goal for the remainder of the season is to consistently score points and extract maximum performance from the car.
