Lawson weighs in on Hadjar Red Bull rumours

With speculation mounting over Isack Hadjar’s potential 2026 Red Bull promotion, Liam Lawson offered words of advice from his own brief spell with the team while admitting his future remains uncertain ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

With just eight races left to prove himself worthy of holding onto his in-demand seat at Racing Bulls, the significance of the Baku weekend is high for the seasoned rookie.

Yet to sign a contract for the year to come, Lawson’s recent string of mediocre results hasn’t done him many favours, both internally with Red Bull and externally, with the Kiwi venerably admitting his lack of future options to the media on Thursday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

“As drivers, the main thing for us is to be in Formula 1, so we’re focused on securing a seat,” Lawson said.

“Honestly, that’s my goal at the moment. 

“In terms of other teams, I think pretty much everyone is either locked in or has a pretty good idea of what they’re doing next year anyway. 

“Right now, it’s mostly talks with Red Bull and trying to secure a seat where I am at the moment. 

“Beyond that, I think it’s at a point where most of them [other seats] are pretty much gone, I would say.”

Unable to put a specific timeline on confirmation regarding his future, the Kiwi was able to admit that he is hopeful of putting pen to paper “in the next few races”.

“It’s obviously hard to know, we’re all chasing the dream,” the #30 said.

“The first goal is getting into F1, but we’re all here to try and win. 

“I spent a long time, especially joining [Red Bull] as a junior at 17, just looking at how to get to Red Bull Racing — that was where I saw my future. 

“Maybe… Not that I forgot why I do it, but that was so much of the goal.

“It’s easier now to sit back and realise the goal has always been winning and getting to the top, and it doesn’t need to be specific to where that is.”

Paddock whispers lean towards at least one seat at the Faenza-based team opening up for 2026, with Isack Hadjar likely receiving the call-up to partner with Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing when the new regulations come into play next season. 

Scoring his maiden podium after a standout performance across the entire Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Hadjar well and truly put his name on Red Bull’s map, however, he remains adamant that the rumours are “very funny, because I didn’t sign anything”.

Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix, Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies ruled out the possibility of a second mid-season driver swap — a situation similar to the one that saw Lawson demoted from his dream seat after just two races and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda earlier this year. 

Referencing his post-Chinese Grand Prix switch, it was no surprise to see Lawson quizzed on his thoughts regarding Hadjar’s potential promotion to the top team during the FIA Drivers Press Conference in Baku, where he offered limited advice.

“Honestly, from the outside we all look in and see… It’s a very tough place to be,” Lawson said.

“For me, it’s hard to look back on and have a proper comparison, just because it was just the two races, but I think: just to prepare well. 

“I tried to do everything I could, obviously, we can always do things better when we look back on it. 

“I would say ignore everything that’s being said — I think it’s maybe over-talked how difficult it is. 

“At the end of the day, we’re all racing drivers — we have to have enough self-confidence to be in the sport. 

“We don’t come here thinking other people are better than us; otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.

“I think to just have faith in yourself, he’s (Hadjar) done a good job this year. 

“If that’s the case, just focus on the job, prepare the best you can, and don’t listen to everything that’s said about what it’s going to be like. 

“Nobody actually knows, only the guys that have done it.”

With scrutinising eyes on him, Lawson will take to the track for the first time this weekend for Free Practice 1, with the 60-minute session kicking off at 18:30 AEST on Friday. 

Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix Weekend Schedule (AEST):

Friday, September 19th:

FP1: 18:30 – 19:30

FP2: 22:00 – 23:00

Saturday, September 20th:

FP3: 18:30 – 19:30

Qualifying: 22:00 – 23:00

Sunday, September 21st:

Race: 21:00

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