Helmut Marko calls out Liam Lawson issue despite beating Isack Hadjar in Brazil, it’s hard to disagree

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Red Bull Racing chief advisor Helmut Marko took note of Racing Bulls’ drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar both scoring points at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Liam Lawson finished seventh at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, less than a second ahead of his teammate Isack Hadjar.

Racing Bulls had a brilliant weekend, outscoring all of their rivals in the constructors’ championship.

Lawson’s defensive driving earned him a new nickname among his Racing Bulls team as he moved up to 14th in the championship, above Lance Stroll and Esteban Ocon.

However, Lawson knows that the man he needs to impress if he’s going to stay on the grid next season is Helmut Marko.

The veteran Austrian gave Hadjar some glowing praise, but admitted he still had one concern about Lawson despite beating on the Frenchman at Interlagos.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Helmut Marko says Liam Lawson is still too ‘inconsistent’ after brilliant Brazilian Grand Prix result

Marko was writing in his column for Speedweek after the race in Brazil, and talking about the Racing Bulls pair, he said: “A strong team result for the Racing Bulls with Liam Lawson in P7 and Isack Hadjar in P8, both already in the top ten in qualifying.

“Therefore, a word about the New Zealander and the Frenchman.

“Lawson has found his footing with the Racing Bulls, but his performances are still inconsistent.

“Hadjar is, in my opinion, the revelation of the season and would be better positioned in the championship standings than P10, but he has suffered four engine problems.

“When the Parisian’s car is working, he is a reliable contender for a top-ten finish – this bodes very well for his future.”

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko? Everything to know

Is Liam Lawson still too inconsistent during his first full Formula 1 season?

Lawson started the season with Red Bull, but by the third race of the campaign, he had already returned to Racing Bulls following a disappointing spell alongside Max Verstappen.

He had to wait until the Monaco Grand Prix to score his first points of the year, grabbing P8 after a bizarre race where Lawson earned the nickname ‘The Shield’ from many of his fans.

Lawson has only finished in the points in back-to-back races once in 2025, earning eighth in Belgium and Hungary when Hadjar failed to score points in both of those Grand Prix.

However, it’s clear to see that the New Zealander struggles to regularly finish in the top 10, but that’s a criticism that can be levelled at any midfield driver.

Hadjar, in comparison, has scored points in three consecutive weekends twice during his rookie season, but has also made several high-profile mistakes, such as his crash in qualifying in Austin.

Will Liam Lawson be on the grid with Racing Bulls for the 2026 Formula 1 season?

Lawson is one of three drivers on the grid who is yet to discover if they will be retained in 2026.

Ted Kravitz believes Lawson will probably be a Racing Bulls driver next year, but Red Bull are expected to wait until the end of the season to make a decision.

He once again beat Yuki Tsunoda in Brazil, who had a nightmare weekend and finished last at Interlagos.

If it comes down to a head-to-head battle between Lawson and Tsunoda for the final Racing Bulls seat, then the New Zealander is giving Marko every reason to retain him for one more year.