By the Numbers: Why Liam Lawson Deserves a 2027 F1 Seat

Liam Lawson should stay in Formula 1 beyond this season. If not with the Racing Bulls, then with another team, please. 

Despite the Kiwi driver performing at a high level in 2026, the Racing Bulls have yet to confirm their driver lineup for 2027. Rumors say that if the team decides to promote Formula 2 driver Nikola Tsolov to an F1 seat, Lawson is most likely getting the axe. 

Arvid Lindblad is exceeding expectations as a rookie this year, so it's unlikely that he will be kicked out of the Racing Bulls garage after a good debut campaign.

Still, Lawson has done more than enough to stay on the main F1 grid, and I'd argue that he even deserves it more than his current teammate. 

The numbers should back up my claim:

Lawson has 89 championship points to his name this season, the most among midfield drivers currently outside the four front-running teams (Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull, and McLaren). 

He scored 14 of those 89 points during his three-race stint for Red Bull Racing, when he was tapped as a replacement for the then-injured Isack Hadjar. That brief Red Bull stint showcased Lawson's adaptability, especially while driving for a top team.

Lawson has scored 65.79% of the Racing Bulls' total points in the Teams' Standings. His consistency this season has helped the team lock in fifth place in the Constructors', crucially ahead of Alpine, their fiercest midfield rival. 

The Racing Bulls would also improve on their sixth-place finish last season. And most importantly, P5 will be their best finish since joining Formula 1 in 2006, when they were still named Scuderia Toro Rosso. 

Lawson has a 13-4 lead over Lindblad in race head-to-head this season. In qualifying, Lawson is also leading, 10-7. 

Sure, it's expected that the more veteran driver will outrace and outqualify his younger teammate. But it doesn't always happen, right? Just ask Mercedes driver George Russell.

Lawson only has 1 DNF this season, a drastic improvement from his five DNFs in 2025. 

His lone DNF in 2026 wasn't even his fault. At the Miami Grand Prix, Lawson's gearbox failed on Lap 5, which triggered anti-stall mode and forced him to hit the left rear of Alpine driver Pierre Gasly. The FIA didn't hand Lawson a penalty, as the crash was due to a mechanical fault.

Lawson is only 24 years of age and is just in his second full season in F1. There's a lot of room left for him to grow, even if he has drastically improved this year. 

For comparison, Nick de Vries was already 28 years old when he was signed by the Racing Bulls in 2023. Come on, now.

Lawson should be able to retain an F1 seat in 2027. If not with the Racing Bulls, another team should scoop him up, and not just for a test or reserve role. Aston Martin? Williams? Cadillac? These teams should be interested in bringing the current best midfield driver to their garage.