Liam Lawson addresses new Racing Bulls position ahead of major F1 change

Liam Lawson has addressed how he intends to take on his new responsibilities as Racing Bulls team leader in 2026.

The New Zealander is set to be the senior driver at the team in the coming season, and will be paired with British rookie Arvid Lindblad. 

Lawson's career within the Red Bull family appeared over after his brutal demotion from the senior team after just two 2025 races, but a strong campaign at Racing Bulls earned him another chance for the coming season.

It will be the first time Lawson has started a season with the Faenza-based outfit, as he spoke of how he does not feel his new responsibilities will impact him. 

Addressing his new position as Racing Bulls team leader, Lawson explained how he was sure his approach would not change.

"It doesn't really change too much for me in terms of my approach," he exclusively told RacingNews365 in an interview at the end of last season. 

"It is much the same, the relationship with the team is now stronger than it's ever been, and it's more than that level of trust that they hopefully have in me, and I have in them. 

"For Arvid coming in, I'm sure it won't take him long to be up to speed and be very quick, so it'll be all the stuff you learn when you come into F1, which might be something I can help with."

The article continues below. 

Lawson on Red Bull's driver culture

Despite his axing from the senior team after the 2025 Chinese GP, Lawson explained how the pressure of having to deliver to save his seat was common, and placed on drivers "from a young age" by Red Bull.

"I mean, it definitely is, but at the same time, that pressure and uncertainty for the future, we deal with from a young age with Red Bull anyway," Lawson added.

"It is something they like to make known to us that we have an unknown future and that our futures are very results-driven, and so that mindset is something we've had from a young age.

"It probably helps when you step into Formula 1, it is just on a bigger scale, and so 2025 was like 2024, it was a proving year, and I had more time in 2025, which was great, but it is not too different."