Liam Lawson relishes his contract extension after "a year of learning" in F1

The mystery is solved: Red Bull has made its decision, ending the ordeal of its pilots who awaited the verdict like a sword of Damocles. If Max Verstappen was naturally out of danger and Isack Hadjar was strongly tipped to join him at the parent stable, Liam Lawson, Yuki tsunoda Arvid Lindblad and Arvid Lindblad, for their part, were uncertain about their fate.

Liam Lawson starts, Yuki Tsunoda demoted

In the game of musical seats, Yuki Tsunoda lost. Max Verstappen's teammate apparently failed to impress the decision-makers at the Austrian team. He is thus relegated to the role of test driver for 2026 and replaced by Isack Hadjar, who is promoted to join the four-time world champion. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will team up at Racing Bulls. An undeniably liberating announcement for the New Zealander. It's a relief and it's nice to approach this weekend like this., he confides. It's very positive and exciting to go into the next year having gone through the off-season with a real plan. I learned about it right after the race in Qatar »

Liam Lawson, however, had begun his first full season in Formula 1 at Red Bull. After only two Grands Prix, the 23-year-old driver returned to Racing Bulls before even having a chance to prove himself, while Yuki Tsunoda was promoted to his place alongside Max Verstappen. I try to tell myself [that things happen for a reason] in difficult times, obviously when it's hard to understand what's going on. Lawson analysis.

"At the beginning of the year, I had a lot of these kinds of thoughts about what was happening." (leaving Red Bull and being demoted to Racing Bulls after two races, editor's note). In this sport, we all believe in ourselves; we couldn't be here if we believed someone could be better than us. I like to think that, given enough time, I would have eventually succeeded because, for me, these two races were so short.

A formative year for Liam Lawson

While Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson had been feuding over the radio and on the track for several weeks, each hoping to secure the last seat in the Red Bull galaxy, it was ultimately the Kiwi who prevailed. When asked about the Japanese driver's fate, Lawson responded: I feel for someone who isn't in F1 and who worked for a long time to get there, but at the same time, there are many guys who never get an opportunity, and he had a few years in the sport. affirms number 30. It's a really, really hard game. »

While Liam Lawson might have wished to prove his worth to Red Bull, fate decided otherwise. Nevertheless, he has emerged stronger from this adversity. This year definitely wasn't perfect, but it was clearly a year of learning and there are many things I will remember. analysis of the Racing Bulls driver. This year has turned out differently than I had imagined, and I have definitely learned to adapt, and next year I will be in a much better position because of it. With 38 points scored this season and a confirmed seat, Liam Lawson can approach 2026 free from the pressure of a first year in F1 and ready to take advantage of the new regulations. But before thinking about the future, one last race in Abu Dhabi remains to confirm that Racing Bulls made the right choice.

ALSO READ > Isack Hadjar is already envisioning himself alongside Max Verstappen: "In terms of mentality, we have things in common."