Liam Lawson was among the final drivers to learn his place on the 2026 Formula 1 grid, with Red Bull taking their time in finalising their driver line-up for the next season. Max Verstappen was always guaranteed a seat, while Isack Hadjar was selected as his teammate after impressing throughout 2025.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko had considered promoting Arvid Lindblad into a Racing Bulls seat despite the British teenager not dominating the Formula 2 field in his rookie season. This left a head-to-head battle between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda for the final race seat, with Lawson ultimately emerging victorious. Details have now emerged revealing what the New Zealander did behind the scenes to convince Red Bull to retain him for another year.
Liam Lawson’s dedication behind the scenes secured his 2026 F1 seat
According to Motorsport Italia, Lawson’s 2025 season was a story of resilience and determination. After returning unexpectedly to Racing Bulls following the first two race weekends, Lawson initially struggled with confidence. This early dip allowed Hadjar to open a gap in the championship standings between the two young drivers, though their performance levels became more closely matched in the latter half of the season.
Lawson’s progress is even more notable given that Hadjar was statistically the best qualifier among the top four teams in 2025. Behind the scenes, Red Bull and Racing Bulls staff observed Lawson working tirelessly at the factory, testing and persisting as he sought to understand why he could not extract the same performance from his car as Hadjar.
Through extensive testing and adjustments, Lawson altered his front suspension geometry, which immediately improved his feel for the car. This technical tweak translated into stronger on-track performances, with standout results in Austria, Azerbaijan, and São Paulo. By the end of the season, Lawson had scored more points than Tsunoda, securing his spot on the grid for 2026. Red Bull reportedly valued Lawson’s ability to respond to adversity, demonstrating growth throughout the season rather than allowing early setbacks to derail his campaign.
Alan Permane’s praise for Lawson’s technical intelligence now makes sense
When Lawson returned to Racing Bulls, he was initially trying to impress team principal Laurent Mekies. Following a reshuffle, Christian Horner moved on, Mekies was promoted, and Alan Permane stepped into the role. Permane later praised Lawson’s 2025 comeback, highlighting the driver’s technical acumen and adaptability.
Speaking to PlanetF1, Permane noted that Lawson displayed moments of exceptional performance and consistency, particularly in Austria, Budapest, and during qualifying and the race in Baku. He explained that Lawson and his race engineer spent extensive time in the simulator experimenting with front suspension and steering geometries. While Lawson had reservations about certain aspects of the car, the pair identified adjustments that unlocked the car’s potential, with immediate improvements evident at Monaco and further strengthened in Austria.
Permane described Liam Lawson as showing “genius” in how he approached the technical challenges of 2025. By demonstrating a capacity to learn, adapt, and enhance performance, Lawson impressed Red Bull, ultimately earning the team’s confidence and securing his place for the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Liam Lawson’s story is a testament to the importance of persistence, technical understanding, and resilience in Formula 1, showcasing that success on the track often begins behind the scenes.
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