Isack Hadjar podium sparks Red Bull talk as Lawson faces Racing Bulls seat pressure

With Liam Lawson closing the gap in the drivers’ standings before the break, Isack Hadjar has since taken control of the Racing Bulls teammate battle, highlighted by his podium at the Dutch Grand Prix.

Hadjar bounced back well after a shaky start in Australia, collecting 22 points over the opening nine Grands Prix and establishing himself as one of the more consistent rookies early on.

Lawson took advantage of that dip to find his feet with Racing Bulls following his move from Red Bull, picking up 20 points over the final seven races before the break. The Kiwi also started climbing back into form at that stage, scoring 20 points in those same seven races.

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Hadjar picked up where he left off once racing resumed, securing his first career podium at Zandvoort with a strong drive after starting fourth on the grid.

He held off pressure from Charles Leclerc and George Russell while also benefiting from McLaren’s engine issues to secure third place. His consistency has been impressive this year; he’s yet to retire from a race and currently leads all rookies in total points.

Liam Lawson faces pressure to keep his Racing Bulls seat in F1 next season

The 20-year-old’s podium was the first for a rookie since Oscar Piastri’s at the 2023 Japanese Grand Prix. It went a long way toward securing his place on the grid for next year.

Hadjar is signed with Racing Bulls through 2025, and this season’s form has sparked talk of an early extension — even whispers of a promotion to Red Bull as soon as next year.

Lawson, though, still needs to do more to lock in his spot. A report from Auto Motor und Sport suggests there are still doubts within the paddock about whether he’ll keep his seat with Racing Bulls for next season.