Red Bull decision-makers named as key Liam Lawson choice set to be made

In among all the talk of Ferrari in-fighting, constructors' championship sealing and unpredictable weather conditions, one F1 driver was being fiercely defended by a number of commentators and pundits.

Liam Lawson, despite vastly outperforming young team-mate Arvid Lindblad and having the best season of his career by some distance, still doesn't have a contract for the 2027 season.

The longer the New Zealander's wait for a new Racing Bulls contract went on, the more rumours bubbled up that the team were preparing to jettison him in favour of youngster Nikola Tsolov for the 2027 season.

That let to a mixture of bafflement and outrage in the paddock, which was only compounded when Lawson put in an excellent lap which put him third on the grid for the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend.

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Italian reports: Lawson decision set to be announced before Las Vegas

Lawson himself has admitted bafflement as to what he needs to do to get extended with the team, with some unclear on exactly which part of the greater Red Bull ecosystem is making the decisions now that Christian Horner and Helmut Marko are no longer involved.

That, at least, has been answered – with BBC Sport's Andrew Benson writing this week: "The decision as to which two of the three drivers in contention to drive for Racing Bulls next year is in the hands of the Red Bull shareholders Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, and Red Bull's ultimate F1 boss Oliver Mintzlaff."

Lawson has spoken about the uncertainty of his position multiple times over the recent triple-header, but some news might be on the horizon. Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport report that an end to the saga is expected before the next race weekend in Las Vegas.

That news is expected to be in the form of a 2027 contract announcement for the Kiwi, who has made an irresistible case on track in recent weeks.

His team-mate Arvid Lindblad is also still waiting on confirmation of his place for next season, but there has been little suggestion that the teenager will be moved on after a reasonably impressive rookie season.

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