Fans Favor Liam Lawson as Potential Red Bull Replacement for Max Verstappen

Liam Lawson, the New Zealand driver who briefly raced for Red Bull in 2025, is now the fan‑favorite candidate to inherit Max Verstappen’s seat if the Dutch champion departs. A RacingNews365 poll shows 31.6% of F1 fans would back Lawson’s return, edging out the 28.9% who prefer an external appointment.

Why it matters:

• Red Bull’s lead driver seat defines the championship; Verstappen’s exit would create a rare opening at the sport’s top team.
• Promoting Lawson maintains the team’s internal pipeline and signals confidence in its junior program amid rule‑change concerns.

The details:

• Lawson earned a senior Red Bull drive for the 2025 season opener but was dropped after the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix, never having raced at Melbourne or Shanghai before.
• Back with Racing Bulls, he qualified third in Baku and turned it into a fifth‑place finish, his best result so far, reigniting calls for a senior seat.
• The fan poll asked what Red Bull should do if Verstappen leaves; 31.57% chose Lawson, 28.94% favored an external hire, with the remainder split among other options.

What's next:

• Red Bull will monitor Lawson’s performance through the rest of 2025 and weigh a promotion if Verstappen confirms his departure.
• If Red Bull looks outside, candidates could include proven midfield drivers or rising stars from rival academies, shaping the 2026 driver market.