Lawson signs fresh Racing Bulls deal for 2027 despite Tsolov challenge

Liam Lawson has secured his Racing Bulls seat for the 2027 Formula 1 season, the team confirmed on Thursday, ending a period of uncertainty that had seen Bulgarian F2 prospect Nikola Tsolov widely tipped as a potential replacement. Arvid Lindblad will continue alongside him for a second year.

The announcement comes after a strong 2025 campaign in which Lawson and Lindblad propelled Racing Bulls to fifth in the constructors’ championship — set to be the Anglo-Italian outfit’s best-ever finish. Lawson contributed 89 points, twice Lindblad’s rookie tally, yet his future remained in doubt as the Red Bull junior programme weighed short-term performance against its longer-term goal of developing young talent for the senior Red Bull Racing team.

Tsolov, who has been handed private testing opportunities and a rookie FP1 session in Mexico, was the primary candidate to displace Lawson. Sources indicated to Motorsport.com during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend that Red Bull’s top leadership had pushed hard for the Bulgarian, but that Lawson’s performances across the Americas triple-header — delivered under sustained pressure — swung the decision back in his favour.

Team principal Alan Permane left little ambiguity about the reasoning. “Both have demonstrated their ability and potential throughout the season, and we’ve seen the progress they’ve made, both individually and as a pairing,” Permane said. “I have no doubt that this is the best driver line-up for us, bringing a strong combination of experience and ambition.”

Lawson, 24, expressed satisfaction at the resolution. “We’ve had a brilliant season together and the team has worked very hard to produce a fast car, which I’ve loved driving,” he said. “It feels great to be part of a historic season for the team as we continue our fight for P5 in the Constructors’ Championship.”

Lindblad, meanwhile, earns a second season after a promising debut campaign, with Permane framing the retained pairing as a platform for continued progress rather than a settled status quo. For Tsolov, the path to a race seat in the Red Bull ecosystem remains open but will require further patience.