How long before Lindblad replaces Lawson at Racing Bulls?

Lawson, still point-less in the 2025 Formula 1 season, has fallen behind teammate and less experienced fellow rookie Isack Hadjar, who has already scored five points, and now faces renewed scrutiny over his Red Bull-backed place on the grid.

Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Montoya said Lawson’s form had not lived up to the promise shown during his 2023 Formula 1 cameo, warning that Red Bull’s management is unlikely to tolerate continued underperformance.

Montoya said: “I’ll tell you the truth. If Liam doesn’t improve any further, I wouldn’t be surprised if they put Lindblad in at some point. Not at all. I wouldn’t be a little surprised."

Former Williams and McLaren F1 driver, Montoya, believes Lawson has not yet recovered from the disappointment of being passed over for a full-time Red Bull seat earlier this year: “Honestly, Liam has been given the green light last year and has proven that he has what it takes to do a good job. They gave him the Red Bull seat, and he earned it.

“The Red Bull situation was complicated, and I think it was a very strong blow to the gut, and he needs a lot of psychological treatment after that. And if he doesn’t recover soon, I’m sure Red Bull will start looking elsewhere because that’s how they work," explained Montoya.

Arvid Lindblad, the 17-year-old British driver currently rising through the Red Bull junior ranks, is emerging as a serious contender for Formula 1.

He has already impressed Helmut Marko, who confirmed that Lindblad is now central to Red Bull’s long-term driver development plan. The Red Bull advisor said on the Inside Line F1 podcast: “We are not looking for a new Max, we are looking for a new champion, and I think the next one, which looks really promising, is Arvid Lindblad.

Marko explained that Red Bull is taking steps to better prepare young drivers for the top level, acknowledging that Lawson and Hadjar had limited access to modern F1 machinery during their rise: “I think in the past, if I compare with Jack Doohan, or with Oscar Piastri, or also with Oliver Bearman, they had a lot of tests in the two-year-old version Formula 1 car.

“For example, Liam Lawson didn’t have this opportunity, and also Isack Hadjar, to a certain amount, didn’t have this opportunity. And this we will change for Arvid—that he, if he makes a very good season in Formula 2, that he can go with good experience into Formula 1 in 2026. Maybe," ventured Marko.

Lawson’s failure to score in the opening races of 2025 has reopened questions about his long-term viability in the Red Bull driver pool. With Hadjar delivering solid performances and Lindblad attracting top-level backing, the New Zealander may have only a few races left to make a case for himself.

Red Bull’s track record suggests they are not afraid of making swift decisions. If Lawson’s form does not improve, a mid-season change at Racing Bulls could become a real reality. Montoya could be on to something...