Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has publicly dismissed speculation that Liam Lawson's Formula 1 seat is under threat from Red Bull junior driver Nikola Tsolov. The rumours, which originated from a Spanish website, suggested that the 19-year-old Bulgarian could replace Lawson at the junior outfit as early as 2027, potentially ending the New Zealander's F1 career.
Permane Dismisses Tsolov Rumours
Speaking at the Austrian Grand Prix on Friday, Permane was unequivocal in his response when asked about the reports. He told Sky Sports presenter Natalie Pinkham: "They're just rumours. Honestly, we haven't even discussed it, not at all." Permane added that he is "very happy" with both Lawson and his teammate, stating: "They're doing everything that we're asking of them and I'm asking of them. They're concentrating well, working hard and delivering on track, which is the important thing of course."
While Permane acknowledged Tsolov's potential, he stressed that no discussions about replacing his drivers have taken place. "Of course – he's in the Red Bull programme and he's doing very well in F2. But I'm very happy with the two that I have at the moment. And, at the moment, there's no discussion at all," he said.
Tsolov's F2 Success and Superlicence Hurdle
Nikola Tsolov, a Red Bull academy driver, has impressed in Formula 2 this season with three wins already, making him a title contender. However, he does not yet hold an FIA superlicence, which would be required to race in F1. As a result, he is currently ineligible to participate in practice sessions, let alone a full race weekend. Japanese Super Formula driver Ayumu Iwasa drove Lawson's car in FP1 at the Red Bull Ring on Friday, highlighting the depth of Red Bull's talent pool.
Lawson's Disjointed F1 Career
Liam Lawson, 24, has had a fragmented F1 career spanning 42 starts. He was called up for a five-race stint in 2023 to cover for the injured Daniel Ricciardo and replaced the Australian a year later for his first full-time drive. He was then promoted to the senior Red Bull team for the 2025 season after Sergio Perez was axed, but his tenure as Max Verstappen's teammate lasted just two race weekends before he was demoted back to Racing Bulls. Despite this setback, Lawson retained his seat for 2026 and has performed well, scoring 28 points from the first seven rounds of the year, placing him 10th in the drivers' championship. His contributions have helped Racing Bulls stay in contention with Alpine for fifth place in the constructors' standings.
Red Bull's Driver Pipeline
The rumours of Tsolov's potential promotion also raised questions about the futures of other Red Bull juniors, including Isack Hadjar and British teenager Arvid Lindblad. However, Permane's comments suggest that no immediate changes are planned. With Max Verstappen's future at Red Bull uncertain, any vacancy at the senior team could trigger a reshuffle, but for now, Lawson appears secure in his seat.
