Eric Thompson: Herald Motorsport Correspondent on Liam Lawson locking in his seat with Racing Bulls

A pivotal year ahead for Liam Lawson after confirmation his seat is safe in Formula 1 in 2026. 

Red Bull has confirmed Lawson will retain his spot in Racing Bulls and be joined by 18-year-old debutant Arvid Lindblad. 

Herald motorsport correspondent Eric Thompson says Lawson will have plenty to race for. 

He told Ryan Bridge that 2026 will be the year for him to cement his position on the Formula 1 grid. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Liam Lawson will keep his Racing Bulls seat for twenty
twenty six. Red Bulls confirmed laws and will stay on
and the junior team alongside Arvid Lindblood, who's earning his
F one debut. A Yuki Sonoda getting the boot. Isaac
Hedger is stepping up next to Max Verstappen. Eric Thompson
is former motorcycle racer and Herold motorsport journalist with us
this morning.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Eric, Good morning, Good morning, Ryan, how are you.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
I'm very well, Thank you. No, You've known non Liam
since he was just a wee lad thirteen or so.
This is good news for him to be staying in contention.

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Ma, I'd like it's a shame. It's a shame as
a race this weekend because I think he would have
been pattying all night as he possibly could have, and know,
and a relief that he's got a seat for next
year because it's especially a Formula one's cutthroat anyway, and
I've always been a big believer and a lot of

(00:52):
people don't quite understand. I think sometimes Ryan that just
to get the Formula one and to get on that
grid is a mountain higher than Everest time and you
tend to forget he's one of twenty to the best
drivers in the world, but to be confirmed for next
year will be a mighty relief for him, his support crew,
his management, his Bumba's dad, his family and all the

(01:13):
other people that have supported him emotionally this year. And
I just think it's a fantastic result.

Speaker 1 (01:19):
Eric, how much does he have to prove this year? Well,
for twenty twenty six, Yeah sorry, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Sorry mate, Well he's still got a race to go
this year, so he can't just suddenly sit back and chill.
Now you're right there. He can't. You know, there's still
something to go in this year. But for twenty twenty six,
it's that will be the year for him to cement
his position on a Formula One grid, you know, and
once you do that, you know you could get a

(01:48):
five to ten year career. You know. There's a lot
of drivers there that a lot of teams really appreciated
for their solid performance. And another thing that is incredibly
to these teams as Constructors Points championships. A lot of
the teams, although they say they like their drivers, they
think it's a wonderful those teams want to win the

(02:09):
Constructors or the manufacturer's title, because that's where all the
money comes from the bank, their chunk of change to
bank roll the teams. So for next year, part of
Len's job will be to keep earning points in every race.
Of course they want to win or get on the
podium without a doubt, but it's more about accumulating points.
So at the end of twenty twenty six they stayed

(02:31):
VCR Red Bulls stayed fift six seventh in the championship,
pick up tens of millions of euros to go towards
the following year, and if he can cement himself next year,
he'll be there for as long as he probably wants
to be.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
Fantastic result, great news to be confirmed for us this morning, Eric,
appreciate your time. Eric Thompson, former motorcycle racer, Hero Motorsport journalists.
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