Karun Chandhok and Bernie Collins “totally agree” that Liam Lawson would be a great signing for one F1 team, with his drive at Racing Bulls under threat from Nikola Tsolov.

Lawson has been one of the stars of the season so far, with the 24-year-old even the best of the rest behind only the eight drivers at the established top four teams in the standings. He has also scored 63 of Racing Bulls’ 102 points so far this season, but might still get released.

Red Bull are contemplating releasing Lawson from their sister squad at the end of this term so that Racing Bulls can instead run Tsolov next season. Despite Lawson excelling in his role as the team leader in Faenza in 2026, Tsolov is the next name off Red Bull’s production line.

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Karun Chandhok urges Cadillac to consider signing Liam Lawson over Colton Herta

It is said that Red Bull are 50/50 between Lawson and Tsolov racing for Racing Bulls in 2026, as the Milton Keynes natives respect what the former is achieving but also want to see what the latter can produce in F1. Tsolov has emerged as the next in line for a seat at Racing Bulls, after fighting for the F2 title as a rookie this year after also finishing second in F3 last season.

The situation with Racing Bulls’ line-up has thus sparked reports that Lawson’s management team has contacted Cadillac to express an interest in a potential switch for 2027. Cadillac do not officially have a vacancy, but Valtteri Bottas is said to be facing an uncertain future even though he has a contract for 2027 after struggling during the American crew’s debut season.

Bottas’ future is the most uncertain because of Colton Herta, who Cadillac are still trying to help get 40 FIA superlicence points to be able to race in F1. It is said that Cadillac will either retain Bottas or sign Herta for 2027, despite the various names being linked with their drive.

Former HRT F1 driver Chandhok believes Cadillac must consider Lawson as an alternative to Herta and Bottas if Red Bull ultimately decide to give his Racing Bulls seat to Tsolov, though.

He believes a partnership of Lawson and Sergio Perez, who just signed a new contract with Cadillac through 2029, would be much stronger than the marketing gains that Herta offers.

Chandhok said on Sky Sports F1 (30/10, 20:26): “It’s funny, we’re hearing more and more that Liam Lawson’s seat is under threat, and I think that’s one of the most unjust things I’ve heard this season.

“So, actually, if he’s on the market, then if you’re Cadillac and Liam Lawson’s a free agent, do you take him over Colton Herta?

“I know there are commercial reasons and marketing reasons for having an American driver. But actually, if you’re looking at a Lawson-Perez line-up, that’s suddenly looking very strong, isn’t it? So, I don’t know. I think there seems to be a lot more at play.”

Bernie Collins ‘totally’ agrees with Karun Chandhok that Cadillac should consider Liam Lawson

Chandhok is unwavering in his belief that Red Bull releasing Lawson from Racing Bulls would be “unjust”, no matter how highly the parent team rate Tsolov. The Kiwi has done everything asked of him this term, after assuming the role of team leader in Faenza next to rookie Arvid Lindblad and also excelled in a three-race cameo for Red Bull while Isack Hadjar was injured.

🚨 Sergio Perez has signed a long-term extension at Cadillac! Have they made the right decision?

Former McLaren F1 strategist Collins has also been very impressed by the form that Lawson has produced this year, with both Racing Bulls and Red Bull. So, Collins “totally” agrees with Chandhok that Cadillac have to consider signing Lawson rather than Herta, if he is available.

Collins added: “I totally agree with what Karun’s saying there, and Liam Lawson, he’s done a very impressive job with Racing Bulls this year.

“He’s scored the majority of the points that they have; double his teammate. He’s been very consistent throughout the year. He’s doing really, really well there. He did well when he stepped into the Red Bull; was a bit unlucky at one of the races.

“However, look at the advantage for Cadillac of taking someone like him. He has run that RB, so he knows a lot about that car – that car is performing very well, he knows their engine. He’s also stepped in the Red Bull, so he takes a lot of data from that, as well.

“So, he comes with a lot of good information if you’re able to take him on a car that really needs the development.”

Driving for Red Bull was Lawson’s childhood dream, but it turned into a nightmare when he realised it at the start of 2025 and was immediately sent back to Racing Bulls after only two rounds. But Lawson rebuilt his reputation at Racing Bulls to the point that he earned a shot to impress for Red Bull at Zandvoort, Monza and the Madring when Hadjar out was injured.

And yet the Red Bull production line never stops, and Tsolov is ready to step up from F2 into F1 at Racing Bulls as Hadjar did in 2025 and Lindblad has in 2026. So, while Lawson feels he has done everything he can for a 2027 contract, Tsolov continues to lurk over his shoulder.