Liam Lawson warns Racing Bulls it would be risky to ‘lean on’ him when Arvid Lindblad debuts in F1

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Liam Lawson will take on the role of being Racing Bulls’ experienced driver in 2026, as rising Red Bull talent Arvid Lindblad will now earn his F1 debut with their junior team.

The Faenza natives essentially ran two rookies during the 2025 F1 season after Red Bull sent Lawson back to Racing Bulls after the opening two rounds. Lawson swapped seats with Yuki Tsunoda, who had spent four years in Faenza, and joined Isack Hadjar amid his rookie term.

Lawson was also an F1 rookie on paper in the 2025 season, but the 23-year-old already had 11 Grand Prix starts on his CV before starting this year with Red Bull. The Kiwi recorded five starts standing in for Daniel Ricciardo in 2023, and six after replacing the Australian in 2024.

Racing Bulls have seen Lawson take all 38 of his points so far this year since he and Tsunoda traded seats in March. The Hastings native also secured his career-best result with P5 in the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in September, along with achieving his best qualifying result yet of P3.

Liam Lawson urges Racing Bulls to remember that 2026 is only his second full year in F1

Now, Racing Bulls are due to lean on Lawson as their experienced driver in 2026, as Red Bull have given him a new contract to partner with Lindblad as the 18-year-old Briton moves into F1. Lindblad will graduate from Formula 2 as Hadjar will replace Tsunoda at Red Bull in 2026.

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

But Lawson has warned Racing Bulls that they must remember that 2026 will still only be his second full year in F1, so he still has “a lot more” to learn. For example, Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko has criticised Lawson’s inconsistency, showing he still has to improve.

Lawson said about Lindblad joining Racing Bulls in 2026, via Auto Action: “Yes, I expect the team to lean on me a little for that experience. But at the same time I’ve done one season. You learn a huge amount in one year of Formula 1, but there’s a lot more to learn.”

Racing Bulls will need Liam Lawson to help Arvid Lindblad adapt to F1 in a new regulations cycle

Racing Bulls may not be the only team relying on Lawson’s experience during Lindblad’s first year in Formula 1 next term. It is said that Red Bull view Lawson as a mentor for Lindblad, as they feel the teenager could become the next Max Verstappen with the right development.

Red Bull have rushed Lindblad through the junior series in recent years. The 18-year-old only spent one full year in the Italian F4 Championship in 2023 (as he took third in the standings), one year in F3 (taking fourth in the standings) and one season in F2 in 2025 (currently sixth).

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

Lindblad also gained further experience in the UAE F4 Championship and Euro 4 in 2023, as well as a clutch of outings in the 2024 Formula Regional Middle East Championship. He also won the 2025 Formula Regional Oceania Championship to gain further superlicence points.

But Racing Bulls will need to rely on Lawson’s experience during Lindblad’s rookie season to guide their set-ups and development through the first year of the 2026 F1 regulations cycle. Lindblad admits he is not “100% ready” for F1, as well, after being rushed through the tiers.