Red Bull are now hurting Liam Lawson’s F1 development by keeping him waiting on 2026 decision

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Red Bull may still be weeks away from making a definite decision on their 2026 Formula 1 driver line-up.

It’s not the most settling period for three of their stars, who are still waiting to find out where they’ll be at the start of the 2026 F1 regulations.

If they happen to be ruled out of drivers’ championship contention, then there’s a chance that Red Bull’s decision could come a little earlier.

For months, it has felt like Isack Hadjar will be promoted, with the final seat left to be disputed by Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson.

Racing Bulls have decided their 2026 line-up behind closed doors, and it seems that the Kiwi might have secured his future already.

Helmut Marko called Lawson too ‘inconsistent’ recently, and it’s something he will need to work on next year if he hangs around.

READ MORE: Racing Bulls chief may have just dropped big hint Yuki Tsunoda is ahead of Liam Lawson for 2026 seat

Red Bull are hurting Liam Lawson’s development by making him wait for 2026 decision

Lawson has a new nickname at Racing Bulls after producing a defensive masterclass at the Brazilian Grand Prix, including holding off teammate Hadjar on the final lap of the race to finish seventh.

It’s the sort of performance that would have done his hopes of remaining in Formula 1 next year a lot of good.

Karun Chandhok thinks Red Bull should keep Lawson over Tsunoda because he offers the team more stability. His confidence hasn’t really been affected much, even after being demoted by the team.

With that being said, delaying the announcement of who will drive for them in 2026 will have a negative impact on Lawson.

How can he prepare mentally for next season, or build any sort of momentum, without knowing where he’s going to be? The sooner a decision arrives, the better.

Christian Horner’s comments at the end of last year show exactly why the team should move ahead with confirming his spot at Racing Bulls.

“Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls have demonstrated that he’s not only capable of delivering strong results but that he’s also a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top,” he told the F1 website.

“His arrival continues the Team’s long history of promoting from within the Red Bull Junior Programme, and he follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course, Max Verstappen.”

READ MORE: Red Bull sports boss Oliver Mintzlaff could now intervene as Liam Lawson fights to stay on the F1 grid

How has Liam Lawson performed across the last five Formula 1 races?

Lawson handled his Red Bull demotion well and kept a good attitude toward his work after returning to Racing Bulls after two races this year.

It says a lot about who he is and the sort of team player attributes that he brings to the table. His speed and consistency have also improved.

Over the last five races, Lawson has scored 16 points, finishing in the top seven twice. Tsunoda, who he’s competing against for a seat, hasn’t been able to quite match that.

He also has two top-seven finishes, but 14 points across the same period, in a far superior car. What Lawson is doing is impressive and should be rewarded.