Key Takeaways (TL;DR):
- Golden Rule: Racing Bulls boss Alan Permane revealed his sole requirement for drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad during wheel-to-wheel battles is simple: “don’t touch each other.”
- Historic Top-5 Pursuit: Holding 5th place in the Constructors’ Championship with 66 points, Racing Bulls sits 5 points ahead of Alpine in a bid for its highest-ever season finish.
- Effective Upgrade Package: Permane attributed the VCARB 03’s strong 2026 performance to seamless technical developments brought from Faenza and Milton Keynes.
Amid a strong 2026 Formula 1 campaign for Racing Bulls, Team Principal Alan Permane revealed he regularly counsels Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad regarding wheel-to-wheel racing. The team boss is determined to ensure his drivers do not squander crucial points as they fight to hold off Alpine for 5th place in the Constructors’ Championship.
With 66 points scored through 11 rounds, Red Bull’s sister squad trails only Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull’s senior team, holding a 5-point cushion over Flavio Briatore’s Alpine unit in 6th. Maintaining this position through the remainder of the season would mark the Faenza-based team’s highest-ever finish in Formula 1 history—surpassing its previous achievements under the Toro Rosso, AlphaTauri, and RB monikers.
To secure that milestone, the team relies on Lawson and rookie Lindblad, both of whom are putting together strong campaigns. However, minor friction has surfaced, such as in Austria—where the British driver ignored team orders not to attack his teammate—along with close encounters in Great Britain, Belgium, and Hungary.
“I have to trust them,” Permane told Racer when asked about managing collision risks between his drivers. “Of course, we talk about it before the race, and I tell them: ‘Listen, you can race. Just don’t touch each other.’ That is my only requirement—don’t touch.”
“It’s a good problem to have. Honestly, when they go out on track, to me they are Driver A and Driver B. I tell them that. I don’t care which order they finish in. The Constructors’ Championship is everything to us,” the boss emphasized before highlighting the success of the VCARB 03’s development program.
“It has been incredible. Of course, this is the result of the hard work from every single person in this fantastic team—everyone in Faenza, everyone in Milton Keynes. What made the difference is that everything we put on the car is working. We’re bringing substantial updates to the track, and when they arrive, they work. The drivers are delivering. Across the board, everything is operating really well,” Permane concluded.
Formula 1 resumes track action August 21–23, 2026, at Circuit Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix, marking Round 12 of the World Championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO is covering all activities live on-site in Zandvoort with reporter Leonid Kliuev.
2026 Dutch Grand Prix — Session Schedule (Local Time / CEST)
| Day | Session | Local Time (CEST) |
| Friday, August 21 | Free Practice 1 | 12:30 – 13:30 |
| Friday, August 21 | Sprint Qualifying | 16:30 – 17:14 |
| Saturday, August 22 | Sprint Race | 12:00 – 12:30 |
| Saturday, August 22 | Grand Prix Qualifying | 16:00 – 17:00 |
| Sunday, August 23 | Grand Prix (72 Laps) | 15:00 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What position does Racing Bulls hold in the 2026 Constructors’ Championship?
Racing Bulls currently holds 5th place in the Constructors’ Championship with 66 points, leading 6th-place Alpine by 5 points.
What is Alan Permane’s primary rule for his drivers during races?
Alan Permane’s sole rule for Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad during track battles is not to make contact with each other.
Who are the current race drivers for Racing Bulls in 2026?
Racing Bulls’ 2026 driver lineup features New Zealand’s Liam Lawson and British rookie Arvid Lindblad.
