Liam Lawson’s wait for confirmation of his Formula 1 future has stretched even further, after Red Bull confirmed its driver announcements have been postponed until the end of the season.
The decision, initially expected by the end of October, has been delayed as Red Bull turns its full attention to an unexpected late-season title battle.
Senior adviser Dr Helmut Marko revealed that the team’s internal discussions led to a collective decision to prioritise Max Verstappen’s championship campaign before finalising the 2026 line-up.
“We discussed it internally and have come to the conclusion that we are fully focused on the title fight,” Marko told Austrian outlet Servus TV.
“It’s a surprise that it’s become so exciting. We’ve postponed the driver selection until after [Qatar] or Abu Dhabi.”
The delay leaves Lawson in limbo as he continues to fight for a spot in Red Bull’s 2026 programme.
Alongside Yuki Tsunoda, rookie standout Isack Hadjar, and Formula 2 graduate Arvid Lindblad, the 23-year-old Kiwi is among four drivers vying for three seats across Red Bull and its sister outfit, Racing Bulls.
Red Bull’s latest junior success story, Hadjar, has emerged as the frontrunner for a promotion following an impressive rookie campaign that includes 39 points and a maiden Formula 1 podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The team is also believed to be keen to elevate Lindblad from Formula 2, leaving Lawson and Tsunoda battling for what could be the final available seat.
Despite spending most of the year in a less competitive package, Lawson holds a slim points advantage over Tsunoda after the Mexican Grand Prix.
His relationship with Red Bull’s upcoming engine partner, Ford, could also work in his favour; the Kiwi completed promotional work for the American manufacturer during the United States Grand Prix weekend in Austin.
Tsunoda, meanwhile, remains closely linked to Honda, which will end its partnership with Red Bull next year and join Aston Martin as an engine supplier from 2026, a factor that could weigh against him.
While the off-track uncertainty continues, Lawson’s recent run of bad luck on track also extended in Mexico. His race at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez ended less than 10 laps in after contact with Williams driver Carlos Sainz caused terminal front-end damage to his VCARB 02.
It marked his third consecutive race without a points finish and capped off a difficult weekend for the Kiwi, who admitted earlier in the event that he felt he had already proven himself worthy of a 2026 seat.
The delay in driver decisions comes as Verstappen unexpectedly reignites his championship hopes, challenging McLaren pair Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in what has become one of the closest title fights in recent seasons.
Red Bull’s focus on the battle has shifted attention away from its 2026 planning, meaning Lawson may not receive clarity on his future until December.
Formula 1 next heads to São Paulo for the Brazilian Grand Prix on November 10 (6am NZT), where Lawson will look to turn around a run of tough results and continue reminding Red Bull that he deserves a place on the grid.
Header Image: Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images via Red Bull Content Pool
