Permane promises ‘right decision’ as Lawson waits for 2027 call

Liam Lawson has made a compelling case for his future at Racing Bulls, but apparently even a string of strong performances is not enough to convince the Faenza squad to put an end to the uncertainty surrounding its 2027 driver line-up.

While rival outfits have progressively filled their seats for next season, Racing Bulls remains the notable exception, with neither of its two positions confirmed and three candidates still in contention.

For Lawson, whose performances have arguably been among the more convincing stories of the midfield campaign, the prolonged wait is becoming increasingly difficult to understand.

The New Zealander sits ninth in the drivers' standings, comfortably ahead of the rest of the midfield pack, despite having also been called up for three appearances with the senior Red Bull team this season.

His Sunday points tally stands at 14, reinforcing the impression that he has done more than enough to merit another opportunity.

Yet team principal Alan Permane is resisting any pressure to accelerate the process, insisting that Racing Bulls wants to make an informed decision rather than simply reward the most immediately obvious candidate.

Permane banking on a more scientific approach

Speaking ahead of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Permane acknowledged the scrutiny surrounding Red Bull's handling of its young drivers, suggesting that the organisation has occasionally been too quick to move its prospects around without allowing them sufficient time to establish themselves.

The Briton, who signed a contract extension this week keeping him at Racing Bulls until 2031, believes a more measured approach is needed this time around.

"Red Bull has had a very successful young driver programme," said Permane.

"And I think, and I don't want to be critical of it, but I think you guys are critical of it, [that] maybe sometimes drivers haven't been able to have enough time to settle or maybe some snap decisions have been made.

"We're trying to apply a little bit of science and that takes some time. We are looking at everything and studying, analysing and time is on our side.

"We're not in a rush to do anything and I'm very confident the right decision will be made.

“I realise it's frustrating for our drivers, I realise it's frustrating for everyone else, but we want to get it right and we will get it right, and I'm sure when we announce it in the coming weeks everyone will be happy."

That reassurance may do little to ease Lawson's impatience. Ahead of the Brazilian weekend, the Kiwi made little effort to disguise his frustration, remarking: "I don’t know what else they want me to do."

Having first appeared in Formula 1 in 2023 before finally getting a full season under his belt last year, Lawson has endured a rather unconventional route to establishing himself on the grid.

His latest campaign, however, has provided arguably his strongest argument yet for continuity.

Speed matters, but experience also counts

Permane insists that raw performance will remain the primary consideration, although the decision-making process extends beyond simply comparing lap times and championship positions.

Racing Bulls is, after all, an integral part of Red Bull's driver development structure, and its responsibilities include nurturing emerging talent while ensuring the team remains competitive.

That creates a delicate balancing act between rewarding established performance and giving another promising youngster an opportunity.

"Main factors are, as always, pace and speed. That's what comes into it. That's the very first thing we look for but we're not just a team that exists to just solely compete," said Permane.

"We are here to bring young talent through so we have to keep an eye on that and that doesn't necessarily mean that we just keep churning young talent through the car.

"We need to have maybe some experience as well to measure that talent against. So it's not an easy decision and I understand, I get the frustration from everyone.

"I get the frustration from my drivers, however, they are both performing excellently and so I don't know if that frustration is helping, maybe they'll be even better when those decisions are made."

• Read also: Worried Lawson still has no guarantees over Racing Bulls future

The other two contenders bring very different credentials to the discussion. Arvid Lindblad has impressed during his rookie campaign, collecting 11 Grand Prix points finishes, although he remains 45 points adrift of Lawson in the championship.

Then there is Nikola Tsolov, whose rapid progress through the junior ranks has put him firmly on Red Bull's radar. The Bulgarian, a race winner and second in the Formula 2 standings during his debut season, also made his F1 practice debut in Mexico, finishing just a tenth behind Lindblad.

Three drivers, two seats and a decision that carries considerable implications for Red Bull's long-term driver strategy.

Permane wants patience, but with Lawson continuing to deliver on track, the pressure to explain precisely what more he needs to do is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook