Lawson wants new deal now as silly season gathers pace

Liam Lawson says he would sign a new Racing Bulls contract immediately if the decision were up to him.

As Formula 1’s 2027 driver market begins to stir in Monaco, the New Zealander remains one of several drivers without clarity beyond the current season.

Lawson’s contract expires at the end of 2026, and Red Bull’s junior teams have traditionally preferred short-term deals that allow flexibility when deciding future lineups.

After a difficult Red Bull promotion earlier in his career and subsequent return to Racing Bulls, Lawson has quietly rebuilt his reputation this season alongside highly rated rookie Arvid Lindblad.

Asked about his future in Monaco, however, the 24-year-old admitted he remains in the dark.

"I haven’t really thought about my future plans at the moment. It’s too early to talk about that," Lawson said.

"I’m focused on maintaining the consistency we’ve shown in the first few races of the season and continuing that through to the end of the year."

Even so, he made clear he would prefer an earlier decision than last time.

"Of course, I don’t want to wait until December for a decision," Lawson said. "But it’s not my choice.

"If it were up to me, I’d sign a contract for next year right now."

Adding to the intrigue in Monaco, veteran Formula 1 photographer Kym Illman noted an unusual detail on Friday morning.

While Max Verstappen, Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad all arrived at the paddock by boat, Lawson was the only Red Bull-affiliated driver to make his way in by road.

"Liam Lawson was the only driver from the Red Bull family to arrive by land this morning," Illman observed.