Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar both picked up points for Racing Bulls at the São Paulo Grand Prix, and Red Bull Racing’s Helmut Marko did not let it go unnoticed.
Lawson crossed the line in seventh place, just under a second ahead of teammate Isack Hadjar.
The result was a big one for Racing Bulls, who outscored all their rivals in the Constructors’ Championship.
Lawson knows that to secure his spot on next season’s grid, he needs to impress Helmut Marko above all others.
His partner Hadjar received strong praise from the veteran Austrian despite finishing eighth. On the other hand, regarding the Kiwi driver, Marko expressed one reservation.
Helmut Marko labels Liam Lawson as ‘inconsistent’ despite strong showing at Interlagos
Writing in his Speedweek column after the race in Brazil, Marko reflected on the Racing Bulls drivers, saying: “A strong team result for the Racing Bulls with Liam Lawson in P7 and Isack Hadjar in P8, both already in the top ten in qualifying.
“Therefore, a word about the New Zealander and the Frenchman.
“Lawson has found his footing with the Racing Bulls, but his performances are still inconsistent.
“Hadjar is, in my opinion, the revelation of the season and would be better positioned in the championship standings than P10, but he has suffered four engine problems.
“When the Parisian’s car is working, he is a reliable contender for a top-ten finish – this bodes very well for his future.”
Questions around Liam Lawson’s consistency remain after strong Brazil performance
Lawson began the year with Red Bull, but it did not take long before he was back with Racing Bulls, as the team made a change just three races into the season.
He did not pick up his first points until Monaco, where an unusual race ended with him in eighth and saw fans start calling him ‘The Shield’ for his defensive efforts.
This season, Lawson has only managed consecutive points finishes once, taking eighth in both Belgium and Hungary – two weekends when Hadjar failed to score.
Still, breaking into the top ten regularly is not easy for any midfield driver, and that has been true for the New Zealander as well.
Hadjar, on the other hand, has put together two stretches of three straight points finishes during his rookie year. But he has also had some notable mistakes along the way, like his qualifying crash in Austin.
Does Liam Lawson have a future with Racing Bulls in 2026?
Lawson is one of three drivers still waiting to learn whether they will be kept on for the 2026 season.
Ted Kravitz thinks it is likely he will stay with Racing Bulls, though Red Bull are not expected to make any decisions until the season wraps up.
Tsunoda had a rough weekend, finishing last at Interlagos, while Lawson put in another strong performance ahead of him.
If it ends up being a direct comparison between the two, Marko has every reason to keep faith in the New Zealander for another season.
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