By: A thousand twists and turns, a thousand anxieties, a thousand problems, but in the end Lawson's contract extension with VCARB for the 2027 season has arrived. It was not straightforward: rumours that Tsolov could be brought to Faenza were more than mere whispers.
Lawson responded like a gladiator
Liam feared the worst, but his response was strong – we would even call it that of a gladiator. The New Zealander's 2026 has been faultless and, even on the three occasions when he found himself replacing Isack Hadjar, he never looked out of place. Quite the opposite...
In our view, it was precisely the comparison with the Frenchman that convinced VCARB and Red Bull to retain him for 2027. Lawson's season has already been perfect as it is: ninth place and 89 points, a tally virtually beyond the reach of any driver not at the wheel of a top team's car.
The comparison with Hadjar
What more could he have done? The extension came after Brazil, where he produced an excellent qualifying performance and, thanks to penalties for others, earned third on the grid.
That display may also have removed any lingering doubts but, in our view, the Frenchman's performances also carried considerable weight. Isack Hadjar, in the Red Bull, occupies eighth place in the standings. That makes Lawson, in the VCARB, his closest pursuer.
With three races remaining, just 33 points separate the pair. Their seasons have certainly been similar in terms of results, aside from the Frenchman's three podiums, but those results have been achieved in two very different cars. Lawson has done a great job and deserved the extension more than anyone, but in our opinion Hadjar deserves some of the credit this time around too.
Cover photo by Luca Martini / WHYOUT Image
Inside photo by Finlay Williams / WHYOUT images
