Liam Lawson: nothing to prove Racing Bulls anymore after Brasil

Liam Lawson delivered a forceful argument for his place at Racing Bulls with seventh in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, recovering that position after a late-race penalty for Charles Leclerc. Lawson had started third after penalties promoted him from his fifth-place qualifying result, and briefly ran second on the opening lap.

Lawson’s start put him in the fight at the front

A strong launch, combined with a poor start from Lando Norris, lifted Lawson behind Kimi Antonelli. He soon had to give up ground as his intermediate tyres began to grain and the leading cars found more pace. Norris, Isack Hadjar, George Russell and Max Verstappen all moved ahead during the opening stint.

Lawson also lost places to Oscar Piastri and Russell after the switch to slick tyres. Rain returned late in the race, but Lawson could not hold off Leclerc. The pair made contact at Turn 12, and Lawson said he feared the Ferrari’s front wing might have damaged his tyre.

The stewards judged Leclerc’s move illegal and issued a penalty. That decision lifted Lawson from eighth at the finish to P7. He felt the team had made the most of the opportunity, while acknowledging that keeping the leading teams behind was unlikely. Lawson also said the car’s dry-weather pace had been reasonable, despite the tyre difficulties.

The result adds weight to Lawson’s seat case

The points extended Racing Bulls’ advantage over Alpine in the fight for fifth in the team standings. Lawson said the team would not take that position for granted, pointing to previous experience of a lead changing before the end of a season. He expects Alpine to be strong at the next round in Las Vegas, particularly on the straights.

Lawson’s own future remains unresolved. He does not yet have a confirmed Racing Bulls seat for next season, with Nikola Tsolov waiting in the wings and team boss Alan Permane expected to make a decision soon. The result arrives amid an ongoing discussion over what Lawson can do to secure his place, explored in Lawson’s questions over his Racing Bulls future.

The team has indicated it will take time over its 2027 line-up, as Permane weighs the decision. Lawson said he appreciates the support he has received and values working with the team, but for now is focused on driving and finishing the season strongly.