Racing Bulls has officially confirmed that Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will remain as the team’s driver lineup for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The decision ends deliberation within the Red Bull organization over whether to keep Lawson or promote Formula 2 contender Nikola Tsolov.
Balancing Development and Track Results
The outcome resolves a complex internal debate for Racing Bulls, which balances its role as a young driver pipeline with the need for strong on-track results and commercial viability. While some executives favored fast-tracking Tsolov to accelerate his development, Lawson’s strong performances secured crucial constructors’ championship prize money for the team.
Under the team’s plans, Tsolov will take on a reserve driver role for 2027. His duties will include simulator work, official rookie FP1 sessions, and an expanded private testing schedule.
Lawson’s Impact in the Midfield
According to performance data published by Motorsport.com, Lawson accumulated 89 total points during the season. That figure includes 75 points scored for Racing Bulls and 14 points earned during a three-race stint filling in for the injured Isack Hadjar at Red Bull Racing. Lawson’s scoring record helped Racing Bulls mount its challenge for fifth place in the constructors’ standings against Alpine.
Lawson led all midfield drivers with 75 points for Racing Bulls, finishing ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly (42 points) and teammate Lindblad (38 points). Across 20 races, Lawson claimed 15 top-10 finishes and suffered only a single retirement. The 75 points he scored for Racing Bulls would have been sufficient on their own to place the team fifth in the constructors’ standings, ahead of Alpine’s combined total of 69 points.
Alongside his point tallies, Lawson established a solid benchmark for the team against rookie teammate Lindblad. In their head-to-head qualifying battles, Lawson outqualified Lindblad 14 times to seven overall, including an 11-6 record in standard qualifying sessions.
