Lawson's Racing Bulls Future in Doubt as Team Chief Stops Short of Backing Him

Liam Lawson's Formula 1 future looks increasingly uncertain after Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer stopped short of backing the New Zealander for 2027. Speaking on ORF, Bayer instead praised Nikola Tsolov's Mexico practice appearance and stressed Racing Bulls' role as a development team. "To be honest, Nikola performed brilliantly on Friday," Bayer said. "It was his first time in the car, and he's fit into the team absolutely perfectly." When asked whether Lawson had done enough to prove the seat should remain his, Bayer replied only that it was the general opinion in the paddock, before adding that the final decision rests with team principal Alan Permane and that the pair had discussed it briefly the previous day. The comments come after a difficult Mexico weekend for Lawson, whose clash with Max Verstappen and emotional demeanour after Sunday's race have fuelled speculation that he may already know his fate. "It's been a very tough weekend, to be honest," Lawson told Viaplay. "What happened on Friday was not ideal. I have already said that I will learn from this. I never intended it would have such a big impact." When asked when he expected news about his future, Lawson paused before answering simply: "I don't know." Viaplay analyst and former F1 tester Ho-Pin Tung said Lawson's expression reminded him of the period immediately before his demotion from Red Bull last year, and the coming weeks will decide whether the 2027 grid still has a place for him.