Liam Lawson told what he ‘must’ do next season in Racing Bulls battle with Arvid Lindblad

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Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson will go up against his fourth different teammate next season after Arvid Lindblad’s promotion from Formula 2.

Arvid Lindblad will become one of F1’s youngest-ever drivers at the Australian Grand Prix, as he lines up alongside Liam Lawson at just 18 years old.

Lawson is by no means an experienced competitor in Formula 1, but he’s experienced more than most drivers do in their first 35 Grand Prix starts.

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Two temporary spells at RB led to a Red Bull promotion, only to return to the sister team by the time the paddock reached Japan.

Lawson fought off the threat of Yuki Tsunoda to retain his place on the grid in 2026 as the Japanese driver became aware that Isack Hadjar would be replacing him alongside Max Verstappen next season.

Formula 1 commentator Alex Jacques was looking back at Lawson’s first full season on the grid this year.

He believes the New Zealander must ‘establish dominance’ over Lindblad in 2026 to continue his development in the sport.

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

Liam Lawson told that he needs to dominate his new Racing Bulls teammate Arvid Lindblad

Writing on Formula 1’s official website at the end of the season, Jacques analysed how every rookie fared in 2025.

He described Lawson’s fifth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix as his standout moment, as he kept ‘eventual world champion’ Lando Norris, and more importantly, Yuki Tsunoda, behind him.

Jacques said that a ‘shell-shocked’ Lawson rediscovering the pace that earned him a seat in F1 was also a vital moment in his campaign.

Lawson’s suspension change midway through the season also helped him close the gap to Hadjar, even if he couldn’t replicate his brilliant podium finish at Zandvoort.

Jacques went on to say: “Brazil was his most remarkable drive, where he showed unbelievable racecraft to run 52 laps on medium tyres.

“At a track famed for overtaking, he held seven cars behind him in a train to claim a result he really had no right obtaining.”

Jacques then addressed where Lawson needed to improve in 2026 and said: “He must lead a team for the first time in F1 and establish dominance over a rookie teammate.”

READ MORE: Who is 2026 Racing Bulls driver Arvid Lindblad? Everything you need to know

Liam Lawson faces ‘next big thing’ threat from Arvid Lindblad

Last season saw six drivers starting their first full Formula 1 campaigns, each with a different level of hype around them.

There were high expectations for Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman, while many people didn’t know what to expect from Hadjar or Gabriel Bortoleto.

Whatever anyone thought of Lawson’s chances quickly shifted after his demotion, but Lindblad faces a different challenge.

The 18-year-old will be F1’s only rookie, and while Red Bull think Lindblad is the ‘next big thing’, he has a really tough challenge ahead of him.

Lawson could and should show Lindblad up next year, given his additional experience.

However, if he doesn’t live up to Jacques’ expectations and Lindblad begins the season at a similar level to Lawson, or even worse, quickly gets the better of him, then Red Bull might be looking for the next driver in their ranks to step up to Formula 1 to replace him.