Lawson faces pivotal weeks as Racing Bulls delay 2027 F1 call

Kiwi Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson expects clarity “in the next few weeks” on whether he will stay on the grid beyond this season, as the championship arrives in Malaysia for a rare Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang.

The 24-year-old New Zealander, who drives for Racing Bulls, said he is still waiting to learn if he will retain a seat for 2027, with just four drives yet to be confirmed across the field.

Uncertain future in a nearly locked F1 driver market

Speaking to media ahead of the first practice session, Lawson said discussions over his future are ongoing but remain out of his hands.

“There are conversations obviously constantly being had in the background, but for me, it’s very much focused on the racing,” he said.

Racing Bulls, the Red Bull-owned outfit currently running Lawson, has not yet announced its 2027 driver line-up. The broader grid is also close to being finalised, with only four seats still open: two at Racing Bulls and two at Haas.

French Haas driver Esteban Ocon has been confirmed as leaving the American team, while Briton Oliver Bearman is expected to re-sign. That leaves Lawson competing in a narrow market where a single contract decision can determine whether he remains on the FIA Formula One World Championship grid or is forced to look elsewhere within the Red Bull stable or beyond.

“I don’t feel like there’s much more I could have done this year,” Lawson said of his position. “We’ve had a good season and, at the moment, in a good place in the championship, and that’s where I’m trying to stay.”

Lawson is currently ninth in the drivers’ standings and said his focus is on consolidating that position rather than lobbying publicly for a contract.

“Those decisions I’m sure will be made in the next few weeks.”

Azerbaijan collision adds pressure but Lawson stays measured

Lawson arrives in Malaysia on the back of a frustrating Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, where he narrowly missed out on a top-10 starting spot in qualifying before being taken out by teammate Arvid Lindblad during a late safety-car restart.

The incident eliminated Lawson from points contention, while Lindblad was able to continue and eventually finish in the points. The Briton received no formal punishment for the clash and apologised to Lawson as the Kiwi conducted media interviews after the race.

“I think from a team perspective, it’s obviously great that we were able to score points in a weekend that was looking like it was going to be very, very tough for us,” Lawson said. “In terms of the incident, I mean, from my side, there’s not really a lot to discuss. I think it’s more on Arvid’s side with the team.”

He described the clash as something that “sucked for me” but stressed he was “not too worked up”.

“It’s not something that I really had any control over. I would just not like it to happen anymore.”

For a driver fighting for his long-term place in Formula 1, such intra-team incidents are significant. Points lost to a teammate can shape perceptions inside the garage and at boardroom level in a tightly controlled driver development structure like Red Bull’s, where internal comparisons are central to selection decisions.

Sepang return adds technical and strategic complexity

The Bahrain Grand Prix is being staged at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit after being moved from its traditional home in the Middle East following the outbreak of war in Iran earlier in the year. It marks Formula 1’s first race at Sepang since 2017, when Max Verstappen took victory for Red Bull.

The 5.5-kilometre layout is known for fast, flowing corners with late apexes and long straights that encourage overtaking. The wide track surface creates the prospect of cars running side by side through several sections, placing a premium on tyre management, braking stability and confidence in dirty air.

Lawson welcomed the return to what he called an “old school track”, referencing a style of circuit that punishes mistakes more severely than many modern venues.

“I think it’s going to be tough as a track. A lot of tyre deg normally here. Obviously, we have energy management to account for this year as well,” he said.

That combination of high tyre degradation and contemporary hybrid power-unit energy limits is likely to make strategy a central storyline. Teams will need to balance outright pace with careful use of tyres and electrical deployment, particularly in the heat and humidity for which Sepang is renowned.

Lawson’s Malaysian record and the threat of storms

Lawson has previous competitive experience in Malaysia, having raced at Sepang during the 2018 F3 Asian Championship. That campaign yielded two wins, two pole positions and three fastest laps at the circuit, giving him a bank of positive memories as he returns in Formula 1 machinery.

“I remember the thunderstorms, especially in the evenings, that were savage,” he said. “It could obviously be a big factor here, always can be. It would be very, very interesting with these cars as well. So let’s see.”

Tropical downpours are a recurring feature at Sepang and have influenced race outcomes in the past. Sudden heavy rain can dramatically alter grip levels, visibility and strategic choices, forcing teams into rapid tyre changes and drivers into managing standing water and aquaplaning risks. For a driver aiming to protect a top-10 championship position and strengthen his case for a new contract, reading those conditions correctly could be decisive.

Key weekend timings and competitive stakes

The weekend schedule (all times NZT) is:

• First practice: 5.30pm today
• Qualifying: 9.00pm Saturday
• Race: 8.00pm Sunday

With Lawson sitting ninth in the drivers’ standings, consistent points at Sepang would reinforce the narrative he has tried to build this season: that he is delivering under pressure in a midfield car while the final pieces of the 2027 grid are assembled.

In a championship where grid slots are tightly controlled by a small number of manufacturers and ownership groups, and where driver contracts sit within broader sporting and commercial strategies, the coming weeks will shape whether Lawson remains part of the Formula 1 roster he has worked towards since his junior single-seater days.

For now, he insists his approach does not change: maximise each session, protect his current championship position, and let Racing Bulls and Haas fill the last four seats around him.