Liam Lawson faces ‘last chance’ scenario against Arvid Lindblad at Racing Bulls in 2026

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Liam Lawson beat Yuki Tsunoda to the final seat on the 2026 F1 grid at Racing Bulls, and the New Zealander is going to need to prove to Red Bull that it was the right decision to make.

Ahead of the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Red Bull finally announced what their 2026 driver line-up will look like, as well as that of their affiliate outfit, Racing Bulls.

Isack Hadjar will be making the step up to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull, whilst Arvid Lindblad will be promoted to F1 alongside Liam Lawson after just one season of racing Formula 2 machinery.

Yuki Tsunoda is the biggest loser out of the lot. The Japanese driver will be taking up the role of reserve and test driver for the Milton Keynes-based F1 team, after Red Bull rejected an offer from Honda to keep Tsunoda on the grid.

• READ MORE: Arvid Lindblad’s new boss thinks he already shares one key talent with Max Verstappen

Liam Lawson is facing a ‘last chance’ scenario in his F1 career against Arvid Lindblad next season

In F1 Insider’s preview for the upcoming season finale in Abu Dhabi, Ralf Bach was asked for his verdict on what Red Bull will expect from the latest young talent they have promoted into the pinnacle of single-seater motor racing, Lindblad.

The F1 journalist said, “Do the test drives, and it will show a little bit there. I can’t say yet, to be honest, I met Lindblad once, and I think he’s quite good.

“But he still seems very young to me. I don’t mean his 18 years, but I think he still has a lot to learn, no matter how talented he is.”

Bach then went on to explain how Lindblad’s Racing Bulls teammate in 2026 will be feeling the pressure more, due to the fact that he is heading into his first truly sophomore season in the sport, and is up against a rookie.

He explained, “Of course, the pressure is greater on Lawson; he knows that it’s his last chance. If he loses to the rookie, then it will be difficult.

“As for Hadjar, Lawson has driven two races for Red Bull, but it was also his first, I’d say a proper season from the start. So he still had a bit of a semi-rookie image. That will be different next year.

“The established driver will be racing against the rookie. And that will put him under a bit more pressure, of course.”

• READ MORE: Gary Anderson tells Liam Lawson the two things Red Bull will now want to see after 2026 decision

Formula 2 insiders believe Red Bull have made a mistake by promoting Arvid Lindblad too early

As Bach alluded to, Red Bull’s latest promotee is lacking a lot of experience in the junior categories. The 18-year-old began racing single-seaters in 2022 and served just one season in both Formula 3 and Formula 2 before he took another step forward.

‘Many’ F2 paddock insiders think Lindblad needed another year in the category before the move up. The young Brit has stood on the podium four times so far this season, including two race wins, but has also failed to score points on 10 separate occasions.

He may find himself in the same position as Kimi Antonelli during the Italian’s difficult period in the European leg of the season.

Questions were raised over Antonelli’s readiness for F1 at the time. The fact that he also moved up to a frontrunning, works-equipped team after just one season in F2 raised concerns.

However, as it stands, the 19-year-old has managed to turn things around as the season has progressed. Antonelli’s podium count for the year now stands at three, and the future certainly looks bright for him.