Liam Lawson will remain with Oracle Red Bull Racing in the lead-up to the Italian Grand Prix, following his recent super-sub appearance at the Dutch Grand Prix. The New Zealander secured a seventh-place finish, earning valuable points for the team.
Lawson’s unexpected promotion to the main Red Bull team came after Isack Hadjar sustained a wrist injury during a practice session at Zandvoort. Hadjar, Max Verstappen’s full-time teammate for the 2026 season, was consequently unable to participate in the race.
During the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Lawson qualified eighth for the main race, demonstrating strong pace despite limited preparation. He had only a single day in the Milton Keynes simulator to adapt to the Red Bull RB22.
In the race itself, Lawson navigated challenging conditions to finish seventh. He received a 10-second penalty for a yellow flag infringement on lap 55, but this did not impact his final position, as he finished a full lap ahead of the eighth-placed driver.
‘Liam has done a good job stepping into the car. It’s never easy to step into a different team, a different car, for a race like that. And he’s done a good job, only one-tenth away from Max yesterday in Qualifying, and today took the points that were available to him pace-wise with the seventh place.’
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged Lawson’s performance, highlighting his quick adaptation to a new car and team. Mekies noted Lawson’s ability to extract the available pace.
Lawson is a full-time driver for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls in the current 2026 Formula 1 season, where he is partnered with rookie Arvid Lindblad. He is contracted to the team until at least the end of this season.
The established Red Bull Racing lineup for 2026 features four-time World Champion Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar. Hadjar’s promotion to the senior team was announced in December 2025, following an impressive rookie year with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls in 2025.
Red Bull’s decision to keep Lawson with the main team for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix is a precautionary measure. This ensures he is better prepared should Hadjar’s wrist injury prevent him from racing at Monza.
Hadjar has indicated internally that his wrist felt better shortly after the Dutch Grand Prix, and he remains optimistic about a swift return to competition. Further evaluations are expected to assess his availability for the Italian Grand Prix.
Lawson’s future beyond the 2026 season remains a subject of discussion within the Red Bull driver programme. Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov, currently leading the Formula 2 standings, is reportedly a contender for a Formula 1 seat in 2027.
This marks Lawson’s second stint driving for Oracle Red Bull Racing, having previously been promoted briefly in 2025 before being demoted after two rounds. His current performance under pressure is significant for his career trajectory.
