Lawson Embraces Second Chance as Racing Bulls Team Principal Praises Talent

Liam Lawson has secured a seat for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season with Racing Bulls, following a challenging inaugural year in the sport. After being demoted from Red Bull to its junior team earlier in the season, Lawson demonstrated resilience, finishing in the top ten on seven occasions. His performance peaked with a sixth-place finish in Austria and a fifth in Azerbaijan, ultimately confirming his position for next year during the final race.

Team Principal Sees Potential in Lawson

Despite the ups and downs, Alan Permane, Team Principal of Racing Bulls, has expressed strong confidence in Lawson’s abilities. He described the 23-year-old driver as possessing “genius,” highlighting the need for both the team and Lawson to capitalize on successful moments from the past season. “I think it’s up to all of us, him included, to try and understand, when everything is going well – and it often is – what the secret is to this success,” Permane stated in an interview with PlanetF1. He emphasized the importance of replicating those exceptional performances consistently throughout the season.

Lawson echoed Permane’s sentiments, reflecting on the lessons learned from a year full of surprises. “I think doing a first full season – you go in with a goal of how you think the year will go. Obviously, this year went a different way than what I thought and I’ve definitely learned to roll with that,” he remarked. He expressed relief at having solidified his position for 2026, indicating that the experience would better prepare him for the challenges ahead.

Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season

The upcoming season is set to kick off with testing sessions in Spain at the end of January, followed by additional sessions in Bahrain in February. The first race will take place in Australia from March 6-8. The full calendar includes events across key locations such as China, Japan, and the United States, culminating with the season finale in Abu Dhabi from December 4-6.

As Lawson prepares for his second year, he will be joined by new teammate Arvid Lindblad, while Isack Hadjar moves up to the senior Red Bull team. With a full season of experience now under his belt, Lawson is determined to demonstrate his potential and contribute to Racing Bulls’ success in the forthcoming championship.