Liam Lawson reason for F1 future decision delay addressed by Red Bull

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies insists that the Racing Bulls leadership "are taking their time" making the final call over Liam Lawson's F1 future, as there is "no reason to rush" the decision.

Mekies reiterated that the call sits solely with Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane, and the team's CEO Peter Bayer has also voiced his support for the Briton in delivering that choice.

Lawson, despite being one of the standout performers in F1 this season, still does not know whether he will be retained by the Faenza-based squad.

F2 championship hopeful and Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov is the other driver in contention, with Arvid Lindblad widely expected to keep his seat after an impressive rookie campaign.

"Look, I've said it several times: the Racing Bulls driver decisions are done by Racing Bulls," Mekies told media, including RacingNews365.

"And as much as, yes, we run a common junior programme, we are in the unique position where, when the good guys are coming out from Racing Bulls, we obviously have the possibility to get them promoted to Red Bull Racing, as we have done with Max [Verstappen] and as we have done with Isack [Hadjar].

"But how we get to that point is down to them in terms of the F1 stint."

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Key difference between Mekies and Horner

There has been vocal support for Lawson remaining in the seat throughout the F1 paddock, and there is little more the New Zealander could have done to secure his future.

Sitting ninth in the drivers' championship, having scored 89 points across the first 20 rounds of the season, the 24-year-old has single-handedly done enough to help Racing Bulls to fifth in the constructors' fight, which will be the team's highest finish in the standings.

However, the dichotomy of Racing Bulls is that part of its remit is to further cultivate young talent for Red Bull, in the way Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen were developed into future F1 drivers' champions there.

But despite that internal conflict of interest, Mekies is clear that unlike his predecessor Christian Horner, he will not have the definitive say in who Racing Bulls choose.

"There is a difference between giving an opinion and having to make a call," the Frenchman expressed. "I don't have to make a call."

Subsequently pressed on what his opinion on the matter is, Mekies moved to diffuse the situation and avoid stepping on any toes at the sister team.

"I've just spent three minutes trying to tell you that it's a Racing Bulls decision. I'm not going to publicly vent my opinion so that it becomes Red Bull Racing's decision," he reiterated with a laugh.

"It's Racing Bulls' decision; they have all the data, and they are very experienced.

"Alan [Permane] is a great guy. He understands racing better than most, and it's probably fair that these guys are taking their time because, from a Red Bull perspective, there is no reason to rush."