By: In the past, the Red Bull Academy Programme has often been criticised for derailing potentially brilliant careers. Many drivers who were placed in the Toro Rosso, later AlphaTauri and now VCARB, before being promoted to Red Bull, have failed to make it work. With Helmut Marko in charge of the programme, there were not many opportunities. Either a driver was able to impress immediately, or his future — at least with the Austrian team — was effectively decided.
Sebastien Buemi and Jean-Eric Vergne are the most striking examples. Both missed their chance with Red Bull in Formula 1, but went on to shine elsewhere. Buemi won a Formula E world title and has four WEC world championships with Toyota, as well as four victories at the Le Mans 24 Hours. The same can be said of JEV, a two-time world champion in the electric category, FE.
Their misfortune was racing with Helmut Marko at the helm of the academy programme, but — and we never thought we would say this — Liam Lawson, the current Racing Bulls driver, could fare even worse.
Liam Lawson’s outstanding season
The New Zealander is enjoying a golden spell in terms of performance. His pace and consistency have been extraordinary and, despite being at the wheel of the VCARB, he sits ninth in the overall standings, directly behind Isack Hadjar, Red Bull’s second driver, just 24 points adrift.
From left to right: Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen. Spanish GP (Madrid) 2026
Hadjar’s season has undoubtedly been affected by the three races he missed through injury after the summer break. Lawson took his place in the RB22 and scored 14 points across those events. If we were to isolate those three races and exclude them, the standings would remain the same, with Liam still 38 points behind the Frenchman.
Will it all be for nothing for Lawson? Tsolov must reach Formula 1
Unfortunately, however, all of this appears not to be enough for those at the top. According to paddock rumours, Racing Bulls, together with Red Bull, have decided to dispense with his performances and rely on Arvid Lindblad and Nikola Tsolov for the 2027 season.
The picture shows 19-year-old Nikola Tsolov at the 2026 Goodwood Festival
We know well that motorsport is a ruthless world, but this situation is almost absurd. Lindblad has impressed everyone with his ability and it is right that he continues. The fact that he has scored 38 points in his first year in F1 is extraordinary, but at the same time the 83 scored by Lawson cannot be ignored either — 69 if we exclude those achieved at the wheel of the RB22.
Conversely, the desire to bring promising 19-year-old Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov into Formula 1 can also be understood. He is currently second in the Formula 2 championship and still in contention for the title against Rafael Camara, with two race weekends remaining in the season, provided they are held.
The senior figures at Red Bull and VCARB certainly have a complex decision to make. Tsolov must be given the opportunity to race in Formula 1, especially if the final races take place as scheduled and he wins the Formula 2 championship. Equally, however, Lawson would not deserve such treatment. Not this year.
Given the credentials he has built in 2026, he could probably find a place with another team in the future. If fortune “smiles” on him as it did on Gasly and Albon, although it will not be easy. Even the best-case scenario would involve taking at least a year out. A season in which he would have to be good enough to maintain contacts and convince a team without having the opportunity to race on track.
Photos: Red Bull Racing
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