Lawson to continue as Tsolov undertakes first F1 test.
Liam Lawson appears increasingly likely to retain his seat with the Racing Bulls for 2027 alongside Arvid Lindblad, despite Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov having recently completed his first Formula 1 test. Earlier in the season, Lawson seemed at risk, but his strong performances—including an impressive stand-in drive for Isack Hadjar at Zandvoort—have solidified his position. Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer had previously downplayed the urgency for a quick decision, stating, “We are very pleased with both Liam and Arvid and the work they’re doing.” He emphasized that there was no rush, noting, “We have a good pool of drivers progressing through the junior program.” Bayer also expressed positivity when asked specifically about Tsolov. “Both Arvid and Liam are doing an outstanding job,” he mentioned. “Liam is currently ranked P9 among drivers and has displayed great pace in both qualifying and races.” He added that Nikola is also performing exceptionally well in Formula 2. On Thursday, Tsolov's development progressed further as he drove the 2025 car at Imola in his first Formula 1 experience. The F2 championship leader covered 690 kilometers in a Previous Cars testing program. “I really enjoyed every lap, and it’s hard to convey what this opportunity means to me,” Tsolov remarked. “It’s something I’ve dedicated my entire life to, so to finally experience it is quite incredible.” Team principal Alan Permane commended Tsolov's quick adaptation. “He adjusted to the car rapidly and displayed the composure expected from a driver experiencing an F1 car for the first time.” This outing is part of the team’s ongoing development plan for its junior drivers. Currently, it seems that Lawson and Lindblad are favored for the 2027 Racing Bulls seats, while Tsolov is more likely to take on a reserve and development role, especially given the speculation surrounding Yuki Tsunoda’s move to Indycar. In other driver market news, Alpine has secured Franco Colapinto alongside Pierre Gasly for 2027. "We are now settled from a driver perspective," Flavio Briatore stated. "Franco belongs in Formula 1, and he belongs with this team."
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