Lawson is patiently awaiting his opportunity to secure a permanent position in Formula 1. Red Bull has announced that a decision regarding Liam Lawson’s future in the sport will be made in September. However, the team has made it clear that they will not loan him to a rival team. Despite impressing during his five-race stint as a replacement for Daniel Ricciardo last season, Lawson was not chosen to represent Red Bull’s sister squad. Nevertheless, he is being considered for a spot on the 2025 grid, as Red Bull evaluates whether to retain Sergio Perez or Ricciardo and potentially promote Lawson.
Following a disappointing performance by Perez, his position was evaluated during the summer break. However, Red Bull has decided to keep him alongside Max Verstappen in the RB20. Ricciardo will also remain in his current seat at RB, but his future is uncertain as he could either be promoted to Red Bull or dropped entirely. Yuki Tsunoda has been given an extension with Red Bull through 2025, and the team reportedly holds an option on Lawson that expires in September.
After participating in a filming event at Imola last week, Lawson’s prospects will be determined next month, according to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. “We will announce what happens next with Liam Lawson in September,” Marko stated in an interview with Speedweek. “It has been planned for some time that he would be able to gain more Formula 1 experience in Imola.”
If Red Bull decides to retain Perez and Ricciardo in 2025, other teams outside of Red Bull’s stable may consider pursuing Lawson. Sauber has been rumored to be interested in his services. However, Marko has ruled out the possibility of loaning out the New Zealander in a temporary arrangement, similar to Carlos Sainz’s move to Renault in 2017. “Even though other teams may want to use him on loan, he is not available for that,” added Marko.
In the meantime, Marko is confident that Red Bull prospect and current Formula 2 championship leader Isack Hadjar has demonstrated the necessary skills to make the leap to Formula 1. “Our Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar secured his fourth victory in the top-tier racing class at Spa. He clearly has the potential for Formula 1,” Marko emphasized. “We will see how things develop, but he will certainly play a role. It’s possible that he will spend a year as a test and simulator driver, similar to Lawson.
Photo from Liam Lawson Instagram
