Liam Lawson ‘pathetic and childish’ F1 future theory under Brundle scrutiny

Liam Lawson is not sure what more Red Bull and Racing Bulls wants to see from him, with his Formula 1 future yet to be resolved.

Martin Brundle says it is “pathetic” and “childish” if the New Zealander’s incident with Max Verstappen in Mexico is going to trigger his exit, a theory which the Sky F1 pundit cannot bring himself to believe.

Liam Lawson has done ‘tremendous’ job for Racing Bulls

It is yet to be confirmed which two drivers will fill the Racing Bulls seats for the F1 2027 season.

Despite Lawson enjoying what has been his best season in Formula 1 to date, playing a pivotal role in Racing Bulls’ grip on P5 in the Constructors’ Championship, the threat of Nikola Tsolov looms over his seat.

At the Brazilian Grand Prix, it was put to Lawson by Sky F1’s Ted Kravitz that surely Racing Bulls, the junior Red Bull F1 team, would not get rid of him.

“I don’t know,” Lawson replied. “Every weekend I’ve been trying to obviously do my best, and I feel like we’ve had a really strong year, and we’re in a good position.

“We’re fighting Alpine. We’re pulling away from Alpine every weekend, and with a few races left, we’re trying to stay on top of them.

“I don’t know what else they want me to do, but it’s just one of those things at the moment.”

Asked if he has a plan B for F1 2027, he said: “It’s tough, isn’t it? It’s the end of the season. When something like this is pushed all the way to the end, you’re left with not really any options.

“It’s not the easiest situation.

“Obviously, I want to be racing in Formula 1, and I’m trying to show my best every weekend. And I feel like we’ve had a good year.”

Liam Lawson vs Arvid Lindblad: Racing Bulls head-to-head stats for F1 2026 season

F1 2026: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between teammates

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Sky F1 co-commentator and pundit Brundle harked back to a Lawson incident also involving Verstappen in Mexico, calling it “pathetic” if that impacted his future within the Red Bull stable, to the point where Brundle cannot bring himself to believe that it could be the case.

Both drivers picked up a one-place grid penalty in Mexico City after colliding during Friday practice, neither driver willing to concede track position. Verstappen said in the aftermath that it was not smart of Lawson to “pick a fight with me” considering his F1 future status.

“If he dared be on the racetrack on a preparation lap like Max at the same moment, if that’s a factor in him getting the heave-ho, that’s pathetic,” said Brundle. “That’s so childish. I can’t believe it is. I think that’s just an excuse if they are using that.

“So either he’s got a brilliant poker face, or he knows he’s out of there, which is quite something.

“I remember starting to beat Michael Schumacher in the Benetton team and I got biffed at the end of the year. It happens in this business for any number of reasons, sometimes commercial reasons, political, future, and the teams are thinking a long way ahead.

“All the pieces of the jigsaw fit together in a way that doesn’t always look obvious to us standing here talking about it right now.

“But I think Liam’s done a tremendous job for them.”

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