News Summary
- Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are both out of contract at the end of 2026, with Racing Bulls yet to confirm either driver for next season
- Lawson has strengthened his position with a consistent campaign, while Lindblad has impressed during his rookie year
- F2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov has been described as “next in line” and has already completed his first Formula 1 test
Three drivers. Two seats. Racing Bulls has one of the few major decisions remaining on the 2027 Formula 1 grid.
Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad have produced a strong season for the Faenza team, but neither has yet been confirmed for next year. Behind them, Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov is increasingly prepared for promotion, having completed his first F1 test as Red Bull evaluates its options.
The decision is complicated because Racing Bulls is not choosing between an underperforming incumbent and an obvious replacement. Lawson has established himself among the strongest midfield drivers, Lindblad has delivered a convincing rookie season and Tsolov represents the next stage of Red Bull’s junior programme.
Lawson has the strongest results argument
Lawson’s case is relatively straightforward: he has delivered what Racing Bulls needed from him in 2026.
The New Zealander sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship and has regularly fought at the front of the midfield. His season has also included a three-race return to Red Bull while Isack Hadjar was injured, giving him another opportunity to demonstrate that he can adapt quickly to different machinery.
Lawson believes there is little more he could have done.
“I don’t feel like there’s much more I could have done this year,” he said recently. “We’ve had a good season and, at the moment, [we’re] in a good place in the championship.”
A decision is expected within the next few weeks, but Lawson remains without a contract. The uncertainty is therefore increasingly about Red Bull’s driver structure rather than a lack of performance from the 24-year-old.
Lindblad remains one of Red Bull’s key long-term prospects
Lindblad’s argument is different.
The British-Swedish driver entered Formula 1 as one of Red Bull’s most highly rated juniors and has justified much of that confidence during his rookie campaign. He has scored consistently enough to help Racing Bulls fight for fifth in the Constructors’ Championship while continuing to develop alongside Lawson.
Lindblad demonstrated his potential through a measured and self-critical rookie season, while current paddock indications continue to place him among the leading candidates to remain.
Keeping Lawson and Lindblad would also give Racing Bulls continuity into the second season of Formula 1’s current technical regulations, avoiding the need to integrate another rookie.
That is important because Tsolov’s rise creates pressure without making Lindblad an obvious driver to remove.
Tsolov is officially ‘next in line’
Tsolov has done almost everything required to make himself a realistic Formula 1 candidate.
The Bulgarian leads the Formula 2 championship after a rapid progression through Red Bull’s junior system, and Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has publicly described him as “next in line” for promotion.
Red Bull has also moved beyond evaluating him purely through junior-category results.
Tsolov completed 690km in a 2025 Racing Bulls car at Imola during his first Formula 1 test. Permane said he adapted quickly and showed the composure expected from a driver experiencing F1 machinery for the first time.
A strong finish to the Formula 2 season would increase the pressure further. If Tsolov wins the championship, he would be unable to return to F2 in 2027 under FIA regulations, leaving Red Bull to decide whether to promote him immediately or spend a season using him in a reserve and testing role.
Why Racing Bulls cannot simply promote all its best juniors
The dilemma reflects Racing Bulls’ unusual role inside Red Bull.
The team needs to score Constructors’ Championship points, but it also exists as a pathway for drivers who could eventually graduate to Red Bull Racing. Those objectives do not always lead to the same decision.
From a purely results-based perspective, removing Lawson after his 2026 campaign would be difficult to justify. Keeping him, however, potentially blocks Tsolov at precisely the point when the Bulgarian appears ready for the next stage.
There is also recent precedent for the danger of leaving a successful junior without a race seat. Red Bull does not need to make an immediate decision, but keeping Tsolov outside Formula 1 for an entire season would require a clear development programme.
Singapore gives Lawson and Lindblad another comparison
The decision now moves into the final seven rounds of the season.
Singapore is particularly relevant for Lawson because Marina Bay was the venue where he scored his first Formula 1 points in 2023. He arrives this time trying to preserve ninth in the championship while Racing Bulls continues evaluating its options.
The Singapore GP is also a sprint weekend, providing two opportunities for Lawson and Lindblad to score points and another direct comparison between the current teammates.
For Tsolov, the remaining Formula 2 rounds and further F1 mileage will determine how strongly he can press his case before Red Bull makes its final decision.
GRANDE PRÊMIO follows all the latest Formula 1 news and developments surrounding the 2027 driver market.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is the 2026 Singapore GP?
The Singapore GP starts at 20:00 local time on Sunday, October 11. That is 13:00 in the UK, 08:00 ET in the US and Canada and 17:30 in India. Singapore is a sprint weekend, with sprint qualifying on Friday and the sprint on Saturday.
Why does George Russell have a grid penalty in Singapore?
Russell has exhausted his permitted allocation of four engines after suffering a power-unit failure at Sepang. Mercedes must introduce another unit, triggering a grid penalty for Sunday’s Grand Prix. The penalty does not apply to Saturday’s sprint.
Can Kimi Antonelli win the F1 championship in Singapore?
No. Antonelli leads Russell by 84 points, 320 to 236, but cannot mathematically secure the 2026 title in Singapore. His first opportunity to become world champion comes at the United States GP in Austin.
Who will drive for Racing Bulls in F1 in 2027?
Racing Bulls has not confirmed its 2027 line-up. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are the current drivers and remain leading candidates, while Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov is also being evaluated for promotion.
