Racing Bulls gave the media a clear ‘instruction’ not to ask Liam Lawson one question about Red Bull

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Liam Lawson started 2025 as a Red Bull driver, partnering the reigning world champion Max Verstappen. But come the end of the season, he could drop off the F1 grid altogether.

Lawson completed just two weekends at Red Bull before he was dropped back to Racing Bulls in one of the most brutal driver calls in the sport’s modern history. His replacement, Yuki Tsunoda, has also struggled; the Japanese driver entered the Azerbaijan Grand Prix 19th in the championship.

Lawson is four spots and eight points ahead of Tsunoda, having scored in three of the last six Grands Prix. However, he’s been completely outshone by rookie teammate Isack Hadjar.

Hadjar is in line for a promotion to Red Bull, while Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad is expected to join Racing Bulls. That means Tsunoda and Lawson could be battling for the final seat at Alan Permane’s team.

Racing Bulls told the media not to ask Liam Lawson questions ‘about the past’

On Thursday in Baku, Lawson sat down with media outlets from New Zealand, including Stuff. It was his first round table with the native press since last December.

Before the interview, Racing Bulls took the ‘unusual’ step of ‘vetting’ questions. They declined one about whether he was racing for a 2026 seat in the final eight races, and whether he’d received any updates from Red Bull on his future.

This wasn’t coming from Lawson, who likely wasn’t aware of this process taking place. There was also an ‘instruction’ not to ask about ‘the past’.

Stuff believe this was a ‘clear reference’ to his short-lived stint at Red Bull. There’s a desire to move the narrative on with both teams under new leadership.

Why Yuki Tsunoda leads Liam Lawson in the race for 2026 Racing Bulls seat

As it stands, Laurent Mekies’ slight preference is for Tsunoda to stay in F1 at Racing Bulls. That could cost Lawson his place in the field.

It’s been reported that Tsunoda’s ties to Honda could help him return to Racing Bulls, even though they will no longer be building the team’s engines. No decision has been made, so Lawson still has time to make his case.

There is another vacancy available elsewhere on the grid, with Alpine still yet to confirm the identity of Pierre Gasly’s teammate.

Earlier in the season, it was suggested that Lawson may be eyeing the Alpine seat as a back-up plan. But speaking in Thursday’s press conference, he played down that possibility.

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