Liam Lawson has quietly put together one of the most impressive midfield campaigns of the 2026 season.
The New Zealander sits ninth in the standings with 59 points, contributing the lion's share of Racing Bulls' tally as they hold fifth in the constructors' championship.
With 10 top-10 finishes from 14 grands prix and just a single retirement, consistency has been the hallmark of his year.
His form earned him a call-up to Red Bull Racing as a substitute for the injured Isack Hadjar, where he delivered a P6 in Madrid and a P7 at Zandvoort across three outings, further strengthening his case within the organisation.
With 2027 line-ups now firmly on the agenda, Red Bull faces a genuine dilemma. Lawson has proven himself a reliable, points-scoring asset, but the team has options elsewhere.
F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov, with six wins and 177 points, is knocking on the door. Does Lawson deserve to be retained, or is it time to hand the keys to the next generation?
Cast your vote in the poll below!
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365’s Ian Parkes and Nick Golding, as they look ahead to this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix! Lewis Hamilton hitting back at rumours that he is demanding changes at Ferrari is a lead talking point.
Rather watch this podcast? Click here!
Get the latest F1 news from RacingNews365 directly in your Google feed! Click on the link below and you’ll see your favourite F1 website appearing even more often. That way, you’ll never miss any news, analyses, interviews, or exclusives.
Follow RacingNews365 on GoogleMost read
In this article
Never miss a thing from the Formula 1 season! Add the 2026 F1 schedule to your calendar at the touch of a button. Subscribe below and put the dates and times of every race directly on your PC or smartphone, so you don't miss a second from the new season.
Download the F1 calendar Download the F1 calendar
A variant with just the race and qualifying is also available.
Click here to download it..













Join the conversation!