Did Liam Lawson deserve his new Racing Bulls F1 contract?

The announcement earlier this month of Liam Lawson’s 2026 Racing Bulls seat has sparked debate over whether Red Bull made the right call in retaining the New Zealander over Yuki Tsunoda.

Ahead of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it was confirmed that Lawson would remain with Racing Bulls for 2026, partnering rookie Arvid Lindblad.

As for Tsunoda, he finds himself in Red Bull’s reserve and test driver role for next season after being replaced by Isack Hadjar.

Both Lawson and Tsunoda endured challenging campaigns, largely triggered by racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

Lawson’s season followed a familiar Red Bull pattern of early promise followed by struggle. After replacing Sergio Perez, the 23-year-old lasted just two races before being demoted to Racing Bulls following poor performances in Australia and China.

However, his return to Racing Bulls marked a significant turnaround, with 38 points scored across 22 races and a level of consistency that impressed team management.

Tsunoda’s journey proved more disappointing. Promoted to Red Bull to replace Lawson from his home grand prix, the Japanese driver struggled with qualifying exits and inconsistent performances, ultimately finishing 17th in the drivers’ championship.

His best result of sixth in Azerbaijan highlighted his potential but could not mask his overall struggles alongside Verstappen. As a result, Tsunoda is off the grid for 2026, while Lawson has the opportunity to build momentum with the sister team.

But was the right decision made?

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