The New Zealander was asked about his 2027 prospects during media day ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, saying it was far from his focus.
“It’s definitely early at the moment to talk about it,” Lawson said.
“At the moment, I’m just focused on trying to keep the consistency we’ve had from the first part of the year and carry that through the rest of the year.”
Pushed on whether he would prefer clarity sooner rather than later, given his end-of-season wait last year, Lawson admitted patience is not his preferred route.
“But it’s not my choice to do that,” he added with a laugh.
“If it were my decision, I’d sign something right now for next year, but it depends on a lot of things.”
Lawson maintained his seat at the team for 2026 alongside rookie teammate Arvid Lindblad following a solid campaign in 2025 that saw him return to Racing Bulls after being demoted from Red Bull team after two starts.
With Isack Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull from the junior team in 2026, that left Yuki Tsunoda without a seat for this season. The Japanese driver was retained as the test and reserve driver for both teams.
But as is often the case within Red Bull, speculation mounts through its junior program and driver progression system, with the team currently fielding four drivers across Formula 2 and Formula 3.
Nikola Tsolov is the sole Red Bull junior in F2, with the Bulgarian currently sitting third in the drivers’ championship in a season that has seen him take two victories in the Australian feature race and Miami sprint.
Formula 3 features three Red Bull juniors, with Irishman Fionn McLaughlin and Argentinian Mattia Colnaghi both backed by the Austrian drink giant.
Mexican Ernesto Rivera is set to make his F3 debut this weekend in Monaco following an injury-induced layoff.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a steady start to 2026, though Lawson’s future is again a talking point in his second full F1 season.
After five rounds, he sits 10th in the drivers’ standings on 16 points, having scored in three grands prix and the China sprint.
He currently leads the head-to-head battle against Lindblad in both grand prix qualifying (3-2) and race finishes (3-2), while also maintaining a 2-1 advantage in sprint race results. Only sprint qualifying (1-2) goes in Lindblad’s favour.
Reflecting on the campaign so far, Lawson said his season has been steady rather than spectacular, but encouraging as he adapts to the current generation of machinery.
“It’s good. Honestly,” he said.
“I think obviously for us, things sort of fell into place in Canada a little bit with some of the cars retiring in front of us. But we made the most of it.
“I think in general it’s been a good year.”
Looking ahead to Monaco, Lawson expects another demanding weekend around the streets of Monte Carlo, but one he is embracing given his previous success at the venue.
He scored his first points in 2025 at the circuit by finishing eighth on his debut F1 Monaco appearance, becoming the first New Zealander to score there since Denny Hulme in 1973.
“The intensity here is so high. The concentration you have to have,” he said.
“It’s an amazing feeling when you’re on the limit and you’re that sort of zone.
“But you definitely can’t leave it.”
2026 F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more
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