How Did Liam Lawson Snatch Racing Bulls Seat That Was Set to Go to Nikola Tsolov?

Liam Lawson has secured his place at Racing Bulls for the 2027 Formula 1 season after facing serious competition from Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov. His future was uncertain for much of the season, with the team reportedly considering a change in its driver lineup.

However, a series of strong performances helped the New Zealander change the situation and earn another opportunity in Formula 1.

Nikola Tsolov Was Initially Set to Replace Liam Lawson

In a recent discussion, one of the key points raised was that the New Zealander’s contract was not expected to be extended beyond 2026.

Dutch F1 journalist Jacky Martens explained: “We mentioned many times in the podcast…It was pretty much a done deal that Lawson’s contract wouldn’t be extended after the season, and that Tsolov would be in the car from next year onwards.”

This made it clear that Tsolov was not simply an outside candidate for the position. He was considered the preferred option to take over the car, while Lawson was expected to leave the team at the end of the season.

“That completely changed, obviously, looking at the situation… He did an amazing job because he kept performing week in, week out, even while he knew he was under a huge amount of pressure,” Martens further explained.

The comments highlighted how Lawson continued delivering results despite the uncertainty surrounding his contract. His performances also caught the attention of senior figures at Red Bull, forcing them to reconsider their original plans.

Racing Bulls eventually confirmed Lawson and Arvid Lindblad for 2027 on November 12. Meanwhile, Tsolov will become a reserve driver for both Red Bull teams, keeping him within the organization’s development program.

Liam Lawson’s Last Five Races Strengthened His Case

Lawson’s results in the five Grands Prix leading up to the driver announcement showed why Racing Bulls retained him. He finished four of those races in seventh place and secured another top-10 result in the United States.

His performance in Mexico was particularly important. Lawson started from the pit lane following his qualifying disqualification but recovered to finish seventh. This gave him six valuable points despite starting from the back of the field.

The Brazilian Grand Prix provided another strong result. Lawson qualified fifth but started third after penalties affected the starting order. He briefly moved into second place during the changing conditions before finishing seventh.

These results demonstrated his ability to score points consistently, even under difficult circumstances. He also helped Racing Bulls maintain fifth place in the Constructors’ Championship. Lawson had contributed 75 of the team’s 114 points until the Sao Paulo GP.

Max Verstappen Warned Liam Lawson Against Fighting Him

Lawson also faced criticism from Max Verstappen following their collision during FP2 at the 2026 Mexican Grand Prix. The incident happened when Verstappen attempted to overtake the Racing Bulls driver into Turn 12.

Lawson tried to regain his position through the stadium section, and the two cars made contact.

The collision damaged the Red Bull’s floor and the Racing Bulls’ front wing, prompting race control to briefly stop the session to clear the debris. Both drivers received one-place grid penalties after the stewards reviewed the incident.

Verstappen was particularly unhappy with Lawson’s decision to fight him during practice. He told Sky Sports, “Maybe not very smart behaviour what he was trying to do there… I would act a little bit smarter. Also, when you’re fighting for your seat, it’s not very smart behaviour.”

His comments were a direct criticism of Lawson’s judgment, especially given the uncertainty surrounding his Racing Bulls contract. Verstappen suggested that the New Zealander should have avoided unnecessary risks while trying to secure his place on the 2027 grid.

However, Lawson did not allow the disagreement to continue. He approached Verstappen the following morning and apologized for the contact. He said that he had not intended to cause the collision and accepted that such incidents should not happen during practice.

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