Liam Lawson delivered a solid performance at the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, strengthening Racing Bulls’ position in the constructors’ standings. Starting from the second row and promoted to third on the grid due to penalties, Lawson showed early promise by briefly running in second place behind Kimi Antonelli.
The race conditions were challenging, with damp weather at the start and finish affecting tyre performance and grip. Lawson faced tyre graining issues on intermediate tyres early on, which caused him to lose ground to drivers like Lando Norris, Isack Hadjar, George Russell, and Max Verstappen. Despite these difficulties, Lawson managed to finish seventh after a post-race penalty was applied to Charles Leclerc, who had overtaken Lawson with contact during the race.
Lawson described the race as “crazy,” acknowledging the challenge of holding position against the faster cars from the top four teams. His points contributed to extending Racing Bulls’ lead over Alpine in the battle for fifth place in the constructors’ championship.
Looking ahead, Lawson is awaiting confirmation of his seat for the 2027 season, with Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane expected to make a decision soon. Nikola Tsolov has been mentioned as a contender for the seat, but no final decision has been announced. Lawson expressed gratitude for the support from his team and remains focused on delivering strong performances in the remaining races of the season.
He also noted that Alpine could be particularly competitive at the upcoming Las Vegas Grand Prix due to their straight-line speed advantage. Lawson’s reflections underline the ongoing challenges faced by Racing Bulls as they aim to secure their position in the constructors’ standings amid strong competition.
This weekend’s Sao Paulo race highlighted the complexities of tyre management and race pace in mixed weather conditions, with Lawson’s drive demonstrating resilience despite the setbacks. His performance added valuable points to Racing Bulls’ tally and kept the team ahead in their midfield battle.
With the season progressing, the focus for Lawson and Racing Bulls will be on maintaining consistency and adapting to varying track conditions. The decision on Lawson’s future with the team remains pending, but his recent displays have reinforced his case for retention.