Liam Lawson backed for new F1 option if Racing Bulls swing axe

Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has backed Liam Lawson to find a seat on the grid elsewhere if he is dropped by Racing Bulls.

The New Zealander has not yet heard whether he will be retained by the Faenza-based squad for next year despite his impressive run of performances.

Lawson has consistently placed himself in the point-scoring positions this year and sits ninth in the drivers' championship, the leading performer outside of the drivers at the top four teams.

The 24-year-old is facing competition for his seat from F2 title protagonist Nikola Tsolov, who made his FP1 debut with the team in Mexico.

Brundle insisted F1 is a “brutal business” as the wait for Lawson goes on.

“That's very strange, isn't it?” Brundle said, speaking to Sky F1. 

“He's done such a great job, he's scored so many points. They're comfortably fifth in the world championship. 

“But this is a brutal business, and you get a chance to drive an F1 car because somebody else has been kicked out.”

Regardless of what decision is made regarding Lawson, Brundle is adamant it will not spell the end of his F1 career.

“Watching Esteban [Ocon]'s name come down [in Mexico], it did seem like the front of a bus or the front of a train changing names quite frequently. It's very unusual these days.

“But Liam has done enough to stay in F1. If he's not got that job, he'll either be a super sub, or he'll get a slot quite quickly somewhere else. 

“He's been outstanding this year, but it depends on what the team wants to project for the future.”