Liam Lawson spies major Brazil opportunity to potentially save F1 career

Liam Lawson is optimistic that the two races on the Brazilian Grand Prix schedule could be crucial in deciding whether he keeps his F1 seat for next season.

Lawson's future at Racing Bulls has not been confirmed, with four drivers vying for three seats, with Isack Hadjar expected to step up to replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull.

That means Tsunoda, Lawson, and F2 protege Arvid Lindblad are now fighting for two Racing Bulls seats, with a decision initially expected after Mexico, but it has been delayed.

Whilst Lawson indicated there had not been any talks with the team between Mexico City and Brazil on his future, the New Zealander reiterated that his future was dependent on performing, as he eyed up a strong weekend with the Sprint race set for Saturday. 

When asked if there had been further talks with the team, Lawson indicated only matters affecting the on-track performance had been discussed.

"Just small stuff, more focused around these races," he told media, including RacingNews365. 

"We're all aware that decisions are coming towards the end of the year, but the message to us has always been the same: it is to perform. 

'That's what I'm trying to do, and there is nothing really deeper than that at the moment, and that is what is going to determine next year. 

"We've had a reasonably strong car over most of the year; we had a strong car in Mexico, but I didn't get to race. The potential has been there every weekend; we just need to try and execute a good weekend. 

"We have an opportunity this weekend with the Sprint, so there are two sessions where we can try and get some points, and that is the target."

Lawson's only prior experience of Brazil in F1 came in 2024, where he was eighth in Sprint qualifying, ninth in the shorter race, before taking fifth on the main GP grid, but slipped to ninth due to strategy, with the weekend leaving him "feeling drained."

"Overall, it was a decent but very challenging weekend," he said.

"I remember leaving here feeling very drained after the weather, the qualifying, we had the delays, it was very chaotic, but it was a good weekend in general.

"We had double points from the team, a great qualifying, and the feeling was that we didn't maximise the race considering [the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly) started a long way behind us, but finished on the podium."