Red Bull has revealed it will make a decision on whether Liam Lawson is granted a permanent Formula 1 drive in September, but ruled out loaning him to a rival team.
Lawson was overlooked to represent Red Bull’s rebranded sister squad, despite impressing when he replaced the sidelined Daniel Ricciardo at five races last season.
However, Lawson is in the running to earn a place on the 2025 grid as Red Bull weighs up whether to retain Sergio Perez or Ricciardo should it decide to promote him.
Perez’s dismal streak prompted his position to be evaluated at the summer break, but Red Bull has opted to keep the Mexican alongside Max Verstappen in the RB20.
Ricciardo will also remain in his current seat at RB, but the Australian is in a perilous situation as he could either be called up to Red Bull or end up dropped altogether.
Yuki Tsunoda has been given an extension with RB through 2025, while Red Bull is reported to hold an option on Lawson on the team’s side that expires in September.
With the trio having participated in a filming event at Imola last week, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has stated that Lawson’s prospects will be resolved next month.
“We will announce what happens next with Liam Lawson in September,” Marko told Speedweek.
“It has been planned for some time that he would be able to gain more Formula 1 experience in Imola.”
Red Bull electing to retain Perez and Ricciardo in 2025 could attract sides outside its stable to size up a Lawson move, with Sauber mooted to be keen on his services.
However, Marko has ruled out the New Zealander being shipped out on a temporary arrangement in a deal similar to the one that took Carlos Sainz to Renault in 2017.
“Even though the competition would like to use him on loan, he is not available for that,” the Austrian added.
Meanwhile, Marko is convinced that Red Bull prospect and Formula 2 championship leader Isack Hadjar has proven that he boasts the credentials to step up into F1.
“Our Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar took his fourth victory in the highest Formula racing class in Spa. He clearly has the potential for Formula 1,” he asserted.
“We’ll see how things develop, but he will certainly take on some role. It could be that he will spend a year as a test and simulator driver, like Lawson.”
