For the past three races, Lindblad has given some kind of indication he\u2019s ready to challenge his senior teammate, and lead Racing Bulls\u2019 charge towards fifth in the constructors championship.<\/p>\n
Liam Lawson (left) with teammate Arvid Lindblad. Photo \/ Red Bull<\/p>\n
In Austria, he appeared to ignore team orders <\/a>to hold position and attacked Lawson coming out of the pits. At Silverstone<\/a>, Lindblad was heard telling his race engineer that he was lapping faster than Lawson, and should be allowed to overtake.<\/p>\n Then, in Belgium, Lindblad forced Lawson wide into turn six to complete an overtake, and was investigated by race stewards as a result. While that investigation didn\u2019t result in a penalty, team bosses will undoubtedly have an eye on it.<\/p>\n On Saturday (NZT), team boss Alan Permane was asked about managing his two drivers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s good to have two quick guys, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019ll be some management needed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re incredibly close. If you look this morning [Free Practice One], their ideal laps are separated by milliseconds.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s going to be nip and tuck all year, I\u2019m sure.\u201d<\/p>\n As Red Bull\u2019s feeder outfit, Racing Bulls does have an element of jeopardy that most other teams don\u2019t. Regardless of who drives for the team, its pairing are always doing their best to push for promotion to the senior setup.<\/p>\n But with three flashpoints in the past three races, there needs to be some sort of intervention before one of Lawson or Lindblad commits the cardinal sin of motorsport \u2013 taking out your teammate.<\/p>\n The upgrade<\/p>\n It\u2019s unclear as of yet just how much of Lindblad\u2019s fortunes this weekend came off the back of the upgrade he received<\/a>, as Racing Bulls introduced a new cooling update, as part of a new package that also saw improvements to the sidepods, roll hoop and rear wing.<\/p>\n While it wasn\u2019t ideal that only one car was given such a major boost, Lindblad more than took his chance to come home for a fifth-straight grand prix points finish, and cut the gap between himself and Lawson to 17 points in the drivers championship.<\/p>\n As the only newcomer in this year\u2019s championship, it\u2019s not a long list before Lindblad takes the title of best rookie. However, he has now entrenched himself in the midfield battle.<\/p>\n This race in particular gave Racing Bulls \u2013 and Red Bull, by proxy \u2013 the first glimpse of whether Lindblad can lead a team, an audition he more than passed over the course of the weekend.<\/p>\n To his credit, Lawson did everything he could to stay with the faster cars \u2013 including a first-lap overtake on his teammate \u2013 but over a race distance, these things do work themselves out.<\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s up to Lawson to make the most of a level playing field, if and when it arrives in Hungary next week.<\/p>\n Millions at stake<\/p>\n With Lindblad\u2019s two points, the race for fifth place in the constructors championship between Racing Bulls and Alpine is dead even, as we approach the halfway point of the season.<\/p>\n Despite both being on 61 points, Racing Bulls have clearly been the better and more consistent of the two teams. It\u2019s only Pierre Gasly\u2019s podium finish in Monaco, adding 15 of Alpine\u2019s 61 points, that even makes it a contest at this point.<\/p>\n After finishing sixth last year, the best result in Racing Bulls\u2019 history<\/a>, the team are exceptionally poised to go one better in 2026. Alpine, on the other hand, have done incredibly well to even be in the conversation after finishing last, 12 months ago.<\/p>\n Aside from the glory of the \u201cbest of the rest\u201d tag, though, fifth place also brings a huge financial incentive.<\/p>\n With prize money handed out on an incremental basis, depending on where a team finishes in the constructors, fifth place will earn a team a cool $178 million. In comparison, sixth place will net around $162m for the team.<\/p>\n As Racing Bulls\u2019 senior driver, Lawson\u2019s role in the race for fifth is arguably the most responsibility he\u2019s had in his short career. Last year, he played his part in bringing home more than $150m for finishing sixth, an improvement of close to $30m after taking eighth in 2024.<\/p>\n And even if Lawson\u2019s limited commercial backing from New Zealand will be a factor in determining his future on the grid, his results \u2013 and the money that come with them \u2013 do more than enough talking.<\/p>\n Tsolov threat remains<\/p>\n It\u2019s the storyline that won\u2019t go away. <\/p>\n While speculation of Bulgarian teenager and Formula Two championship leader taking Lawson\u2019s place at Racing Bulls was shut down by the team, there were again questions to team boss Permane.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old now has six wins across the first 14 races of the Formula Two season, and holds a 27-point advantage in the championship.<\/p>\nLiam Lawson on the track at the Belgian Grand Prix. Photo \/ Red Bull<\/p>\n
Liam Lawson and the Racing Bulls team are chasing a $178 million payday. Photo \/ Red Bull<\/p>\n