Liam Lawson Faces Uncertain Future as Racing Bulls Se… Read more
Liam Lawson’s position at Racing Bulls could be in jeopardy as questions arise over his recent performance. Former Formula 1 star Juan Pablo Montoya has cast doubt on Lawson’s future, suggesting the New Zealander may be dropped from the team if he fails to show improvement in the coming races.
Montoya, who raced for teams like McLaren and Williams during his F1 career, stated that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Lawson is replaced mid-season. He pointed to Red Bull’s rising junior talent, Arvid Lindblad, as a likely candidate to take over the seat alongside current Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar.
Lawson has struggled since rejoining the Racing Bulls lineup, following a decision by Red Bull to swap him with Yuki Tsunoda after a poor start to the season. Despite being considered a strong prospect in the Red Bull development program and showing promise during his brief stint last year, Lawson has not yet managed to outperform his teammate Hadjar, who has impressed in his rookie campaign.
In a conversation with Spanish outlet AS, Montoya was candid in his assessment of Lawson’s situation. “If Liam doesn’t improve any further, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put Lindblad in at some point,” he remarked. “Not at all. I wouldn’t be a little surprised.”
Montoya acknowledged that Lawson had earned his opportunity with Red Bull in the past and had proven he had the talent to succeed. However, he believes the way Lawson’s Red Bull stint ended left a psychological mark. “Honestly, Liam was given the green light last year and showed that he could do a good job. He even secured the Red Bull seat,” Montoya said. “But the Red Bull situation was complicated and really affected him. It was a hard blow to his confidence, and I think he may need psychological support to recover.”
The 23-year-old Lawson initially impressed when he was called up as a substitute in 2023, leading many to believe he was a future contender for a full-time Red Bull seat. However, his trajectory has stalled in 2025, and his form since rejoining the Racing Bulls has not lived up to expectations. The team, which has a history of rotating drivers quickly when results don’t materialize, is likely to keep a close watch on Lawson’s performance in the next few races.
With Lindblad making waves in the junior ranks and Red Bull known for its ruthless driver policies, Lawson’s F1 future now hangs in the balance. The next few rounds may be crucial in determining whether he remains part of the Racing Bulls project.
