Formula 1 fans believe Racing Bulls have “definitely” just offered a “positive sign” that Liam Lawson will stay at the team in 2027 and deny Red Bull gem Nikola Tsolov a seat.

Despite having emerged as the clear team leader at Racing Bulls this season next to a rookie in Arvid Lindblad, questions have lingered in recent months that Lawson might be left out in the cold for Red Bull to promote 2026 F2 title-contender Tsolov to F1 with their junior team.

Tsolov has impressed Red Bull with his consistent development in recent seasons, and he is also just seven points behind Ferrari junior Rafael Camara in the F2 title race. But three into two does not go, and Red Bull have no desire to drop Lindblad after his rookie F1 campaign.

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In any other team, Lawson’s performances in 2026 would merit a new contract for 2027. He is the best of the rest behind the drivers for the big four teams, having secured 75 points for P9 in the standings. Lawson has also taken 61 of Racing Bulls’ 100 points for P5 in the table.

And yet, Red Bull are feeding Lawson “nightmare fuel” as James Hinchcliffe puts it by leaving a Tsolov-shaped cloud over his future at Racing Bulls. But a number of F1 fans on Reddit feel Racing Bulls have just dropped a huge hint that Lawson will indeed stay in 2027, as the team have announced a new technical partnership with the 24-year-old’s personal sponsor, Introl.

AI company Introl has a long-standing relationship with Lawson, and will now also be Racing Bulls’ data centre deployment partner. The sponsorship deal will see Introl’s logo appear on the nose of the VCARB 03 and in Racing Bulls’ garage from this weekend’s United States GP.

Given that Introl has sponsored Lawson since May and they also have ties going back to the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, many fans feel the Chicago-based AI company now sponsoring Racing Bulls is a great sign for the Kiwi’s hopes of still being on the Formula 1 grid in 2027.

One F1 fan suggested: “Consider this 100% Lawson is signed for next year because from a marketing perspective, it would make little sense to sponsor a team while the driver you sponsor is without a seat or drives for another team. The sponsor’s name both on the car AND on Lawson’s helmet is what would amplify the brand recognition.”

Another F1 fan noted: “Between this and the amount of Ford PR he’s doing the last few days, this is absolutely confirmation without confirmation. There’s no way this happens if the sponsor doesn’t have a guarantee that Liam is in that seat. [I’m] kind of hoping they announce it during his concert. That’d be so cool.”

One F1 fan also said: “I’d assume he’s been re-signed, possibly for more than just 2027, as well. [A] smart decision from Racing Bulls in that case.”

Another F1 fan claimed: “This sounds like good news for Liam, and he deserves it with his performance this year.”

One F1 fan suggested: “[It is] definitely a positive sign for Lawson, but not enough to 100% confirm [he is staying]. Oakberry was [Jack] Doohan’s personal sponsor and [it is] still with Alpine 18 months later.”

Another F1 fan said: “I don’t think there’s any doubt [that] Lawson is sticking around after his performance this year.”

Lawson would likely be left without a seat on the 2027 F1 grid if Red Bull were ultimately to give Tsolov his Formula 1 debut in their sister team Racing Bulls next year. Only Racing Bulls officially have a vacancy to fill now that Haas have just signed Camara for 2027 and beyond.

Cadillac could yet replace Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, but both have contracts with the American team for 2027. So, either Lawson is left out in the cold next season or Tsolov may enter the Japanese Super Formula alongside a Red Bull and Racing Bulls reserve driver role.