Liam Lawson given 'important stage' advice at F1 career crossroads

Liam Lawson has been told he is at an “important stage” of his F1 career amid uncertainty over his F1 future.

Lawson is entering his second full-time season this year, having had substitute appearances during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

His campaign last year started off at Red Bull before a challenging opening two rounds saw him demoted back to the sister team.

Lawson managed to retain his spot at the Racing Bulls squad for another campaign and will be joined by rookie Arvid Lindblad this year.

But Davidson has suggested Lawson must already start looking at the potential of life outside the Red Bull family.

“For Lawson, there have been other Red Bull drivers who have failed within that program to land consistency alongside Verstappen,” Davidson exclusively told RacingNews365.

“But you only have to look at someone like Albon or Gasly who can make a very good career outside of that environment. 

“So I'm sure if it does come to that, that's what Liam will be looking to build this year and maybe next year, however long he stays at Racing Bulls. 

“As a driver, you're always looking to see your next move. Sometimes it surprises everybody - like Lewis and Ferrari - or other times it makes a bit more sense, like when Gasly left the Red Bull umbrella. 

“Let's see how Liam gets on. He starts this year as team leader, for what it's worth and now is building on that experience from not being a rookie anymore. 

“It's a really important stage for Lawson's time as a racing driver.”

Racing Bulls 'on the back foot' compared to top teams

Racing Bulls experienced a respectable pre-season period as he looks to build on its fifth place result from 2025.

However, with a major regulation change introduced this year, Davidson acknowledged it will be a challenge for Racing Bulls to get closer to the top four squads.

“Racing Bulls don't have the same foundations compared to other teams, like the top four, for example,” Davidson said.

“Even though they share a lot of the same DNA as the Red Bull team, they're very much their own operation and they don't have the same tools as Red Bull.

“So therefore, any kind of shift of regulation, they'll naturally be a bit more on the back foot than the big four. 

“Hopefully, for their sake, this year won't be the case.”