Red Bull shareholder pressure could now see Liam Lawson replace Max Verstappen

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Liam Lawson could now be at the front of the line to replace Max Verstappen, as Red Bull’s shareholders are determined to promote from within if their star driver leaves.

Verstappen has raised serious doubts over his future, not just with Red Bull but in F1, due to his hatred of the new engine regulations. Speaking in Japan, Verstappen suggested that he needs to “figure out” his future in F1, plus that he has to decide “is it worth it?” to stay in F1.

The four-time champion is under contract through 2028, but his deal carries a release clause that is very likely to be available. Verstappen will have from August to October to activate his release clause if he sits outside the top two in the F1 drivers’ standings at the summer break.

Red Bull announcing this Thursday that Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will join McLaren no later than 2028 may have also now increased the odds that the 28-year-old leaves. It is said that Verstappen could now follow Lambiase to McLaren, rather than retiring.

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Liam Lawson is the number one name on Red Bull’s list of internal replacements for Max Verstappen

Reports this week have also claimed that Verstappen could replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari if he decides to leave Red Bull but stay in F1 next year. It has also been suggested that Carlos Sainz may be an option to replace Verstappen at Red Bull, should the team have to fill a seat.

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

But The New Zealand Herald reports that team principal Laurent Mekies faces ‘considerable pressure’ from Red Bull’s shareholders to make use of their driver stable if Verstappen goes. Lawson would also ‘undoubtedly’ be the first name on Red Bull’s internal shortlist of names.

Racing Bulls racer Lawson has enjoyed a strong start to the 2026 F1 season, and he has also shown that he can now lead the Faenza crew sat alongside rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad. The 24-year-old has been the second-best performing Red Bull family driver so far this year.

Lawson sits just two points behind Verstappen in the F1 drivers’ standings, with 10 and 12 to their names for 10th and ninth place. Lindblad and Isack Hadjar have earned four points, for 11th and 12th. But Verstappen and Hadjar have also both retired once with reliability issues.

Lindblad and Red Bull’s reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda would also stand a chance of stepping in if Verstappen were to leave. But Lawson is thought to be in the best position currently, as Red Bull need to see more from Lindblad in his rookie year to prove he deserves the drive.

Who would win: Liam Lawson in the Red Bull or Max Verstappen in the Racing Bulls?

We're talking 2026 cars here…

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Replacing Verstappen would be a second chance for Lawson at Red Bull, having lasted just two rounds with their top team one year ago before he was demoted back to Racing Bulls in a straight swap for Tsunoda. Lawson has since got his career back on track in a stable team.

Lawson frustrated Red Bull during his two-round stint in 2025, as he could not adapt to their troublesome RB21. It remains to be seen how Lawson would feel about a return to Red Bull, who are now having balance problems with the RB22 under the 2026 aero and chassis rules.

Verstappen called the Red Bull RB22 “undriveable” in Japan, after he struggled with the car’s high levels of understeer on turn-in and then snaps of oversteer under acceleration. Hadjar’s irritation was also on show at Suzuka, as he called Red Bull’s chassis “terrible” in the corners.