Uncertainty surrounding Liam Lawson's long-term future in Formula 1 continues to linger as the season enters its final stretch. Neither Lawson nor teammate Arvid Lindblad has been officially confirmed for next season, while Formula 2 contender Nikola Tsolov remains firmly in contention for a race seat within the setup.
Team principal Alan Permane indicated ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix earlier this month that an announcement regarding the outfit's 2027 driver pairing would arrive within a matter of weeks. While contract pressure has historically proven to be a distraction for drivers on the grid, Lawson admitted he is handling the looming uncertainty with a completely different mindset this time around.
“If I look back a year ago, I probably was thinking about it a lot,” Lawson told F1 TV. “And it was probably having an impact as well on the way I was driving. I probably wasn’t driving as well. Whereas this year I feel like overall was a lot better. And I actually don’t really think about it much at all.”
This mental shift has translated directly into strong on-track execution. The Kiwi driver currently holds ninth place in the drivers' championship standings with 77 points to his name, having secured points finishes across 13 Grands Prix this season, most recently adding to his tally at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin last weekend.
His consistent points-scoring run has played an instrumental role in helping Racing Bulls cement fifth position in the constructors' standings. The squad currently sits 33 points clear of chasing rival Alpine with just five rounds remaining in the grueling 2026 campaign, providing Lawson with a constructive distraction from his contractual status.
“It’s very tough in Formula 1. There’s obviously plenty of variables,” he explained. “Pero yeah, it’s been strong. And obviously we’re in this fight for P5. So trying to stay focused on that is also helping. It’s been a good season. In general, we’ve been very very strong. We’ve made a lot of progress from the start of the year as well.”
Attention now turns to the unique challenges posed by the upcoming Mexico City Grand Prix. Despite having two previous appearances at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez—where his best finish and grid spot both came in 2024—Lawson anticipates a tricky weekend due to the high altitude forcing exceptionally low downforce levels, compounded by newly resurfaced sections of the tarmac.
“It’s going to feel probably very strange for us driving it,” he noted. “Plus there’s a lot of new resurfacing. So a lot of question marks this weekend.” Lawson will watch the opening practice session from the garage as Tsolov takes over his cockpit for FP1, marking the junior driver's official Formula 1 practice debut.
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