Cadillac encouraged to pursue Liam Lawson: 'That's suddenly looking very strong'

Karun Chandhok has implored Cadillac to explore signing Liam Lawson, whose F1 future remains uncertain with Racing Bulls yet to finalise its 2027 driver lineup.

Lawson has been in exceptional form this season, and the paddock consensus is that the New Zealander has done more than enough to secure his future within the Red Bull family.

However, the situation is far from simple, and despite being comfortably best of the rest in the F1 drivers' standings, Lawson could lose his seat to F2 title challenger and highly-touted Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov.

The Faenza-based squad has yet to announce either of its choices for next year, but Arvid Lindblad, who is having an impressive rookie campaign, is broadly expected to keep his drive, meaning the other seat is a straight fight between Lawson and Tsolov.

But with Valtteri Bottas' future at Cadillac also appearing less than secure and heir apparent Colton Herta disappointing in F2, Lawson has come in frame for the seat alongside Sergio Perez, something Chandhok would happily see.

"We're hearing more and more that Liam Lawson's seat is under threat," the former F1 driver said to Sky Sports F1. "I think that's one of the most unjust things I've heard this season.

"If he's on the market... if you're Cadillac and Liam Lawson's a free agent, do you take him over Colton Herta?

"I know there's commercial reasons and marketing reasons to have an American driver, but actually, suddenly, if you're looking at a Lawson-Perez lineup, that's suddenly looking very strong, isn't it?

"So, I don't know. I think there seems to be a lot more at play. Two months ago, it felt like the driver market had settled, and now there are a few more balls in play."

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Wider advantages to signing Lawson

Standing ninth in the championship, Lawson has scored 83 points over the first 19 rounds of the season, including 14 in his three-race cameo for Red Bull.

That is more than the next two drivers, Pierre Gasly and Lindblad, combined.

Not only that, but Bernie Collins sees wider advantages to Cadillac opting for the New Zealander than what he has achieved on circuit this year.

"I totally agree with what Karun was saying there; Liam Lawson, he's done a very impressive job with Racing Bulls this year — he scored the majority of the points that they have on the board, double his team-mate," Collins said.

"He's been very consistent throughout the year; he's doing really, really well there. He did well when he stepped into the Red Bull; he was a bit unlucky in one of the races [the Italian Grand Prix].

"However, look at the advantage for Cadillac of taking someone like him. He has run [in] that RB, so he knows a lot about that car. That car is performing very well. He knows their engine. He's also stepped in the Red Bull, so he takes a lot of data from that as well.

"So he comes with a lot of good information, if you're able to take him, on a car that really needs the development."

Who do you think Cadillac should sign for the 2027 season alongside Sergio Perez? Let us know by voting in the poll below and in the comments!