Arvid Lindblad has admitted that it would have been unrealistic to expect Red Bull to swap drivers again after the team decided to keep Liam Lawson alongside Max Verstappen for the Italian Grand Prix.
With Isack Hadjar still recovering from his fractured wrist, Red Bull confirmed that Lawson would continue as Verstappen’s teammate at Monza, while Yuki Tsunoda returned to Racing Bulls alongside Lindblad. The decision has provided Lawson with another opportunity to prove himself in Red Bull machinery, but it has also raised fresh questions about Lindblad’s own long-term prospects.
LINDBLAD ADMITS A DRIVER SWAP WOULD MAKE LITTLE SENSE
Lindblad, who made his Formula 1 debut this season, was reportedly considered alongside Lawson when Red Bull needed a replacement for Hadjar.
However, Red Bull ultimately chose the more experienced Lawson, who is approaching 50 F1 starts. Speaking about the decision, Lindblad acknowledged that putting two different drivers into the Red Bull across consecutive weekends would not necessarily produce the clearest performance comparison.
For the 19-year-old, that means accepting that his chance will have to come at the right moment rather than expecting Red Bull to hand him a single-weekend audition.
The problem is that the longer Lawson remains in the senior Red Bull seat, the more complicated Lindblad’s route becomes.
LIAM LAWSON HAS ANOTHER CHANCE TO SAVE HIS RED BULL FUTURE
Lawson’s promotion initially looked like another opportunity to establish himself as a serious Red Bull candidate, and his performance at the Dutch Grand Prix strengthened his case.
After replacing Hadjar, Lawson delivered a strong seventh-place finish at Zandvoort, giving the team little reason to immediately remove him again. His continued presence at Monza therefore represents more than simply covering for an injured driver—it is another opportunity to demonstrate that he can consistently operate at Verstappen’s level.
That is especially important because Red Bull’s driver programme is becoming increasingly crowded.
If Lawson struggles at Monza while Lindblad continues developing and Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov pushes for a Racing Bulls promotion, the Kiwi could find himself under pressure from multiple directions.
TSOLOV COULD BECOME THE BIGGEST THREAT TO LAWSON
One of the most intriguing elements of the situation is Nikola Tsolov.
The Formula 2 title contender is reportedly pushing for a Racing Bulls seat in 2027, potentially creating another complication for Lawson. If Red Bull believes Lawson is no longer its preferred long-term option, there are already young alternatives waiting within the wider driver programme.
That makes Lawson’s current Red Bull opportunity extremely valuable.
He has the experience that Lindblad does not yet possess, but experience alone may not be enough. Red Bull will ultimately want results, consistency and evidence that a driver can handle the enormous pressure of competing alongside Verstappen.
HADJAR’S INJURY HAS CREATED A MUCH BIGGER DRIVER DOMINO EFFECT
Hadjar’s fractured wrist has unexpectedly affected the entire Red Bull driver structure.
Lawson has moved into the senior team, Tsunoda has returned to Racing Bulls and Lindblad has effectively become part of the evaluation process by remaining in the junior team. Now, questions are already being raised about whether Hadjar will be fit for the Madrid Grand Prix next weekend.
The new Madrid circuit could present an additional physical challenge because of its demanding sequence of corners and the load placed on a recovering wrist.
Red Bull is therefore facing another potentially difficult decision. If Hadjar remains unavailable, Lawson could receive yet another race in the senior car. If Hadjar returns, Lawson’s future becomes even more uncertain.
RED BULL’S 2027 DECISION COULD COME DOWN TO LAWSON VS LINDBLAD VS TSОLOV
What makes the situation fascinating is that Lawson is no longer simply fighting to replace Hadjar temporarily.
He is effectively auditioning for his own future.
Every race in the Red Bull gives him another opportunity to convince management that he belongs alongside Verstappen. At the same time, Lindblad has the advantage of youth and development potential, while Tsolov is making his own case through his Formula 2 campaign.
For Lindblad, the best strategy may be patience. He does not need to force a premature promotion if Red Bull continues to monitor his progress.
For Lawson, however, the pressure is immediate.
The longer he stays in Verstappen’s garage, the bigger his opportunity becomes—and the harder it will be to explain away any failure to turn that opportunity into a permanent Red Bull future.
