Sports
Button Endorses Lawson Over Tsolov for Racing Bulls’ 2027 Seat
By Yash Soni
Jenson Button has expressed his support for Liam Lawson to keep his Racing Bulls seat for 2027, saying Lawson’s consistency and experience make him the safer choice over Formula 2 standout Nikola Tsolov. Button noted that Tsolov, who is second in the F2 championship and has made an F1 practice debut in FP1 at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, has shown inconsistencies over the years. "They obviously have the junior Tsolov coming through in F2, second in the championship, doing an amazing job," Button said on Saturday. "But he's also had inconsistencies through his years." He added that while the team may be excited about new talent, Lawson’s performance this year has been strong and reliable.
Tsolov has emerged as a potential future F1 driver after a strong F2 campaign and a practice debut with Lawson’s VCARB 03. Button said that Lawson is the driver who can earn points for Racing Bulls, whereas Tsolov’s potential is less certain. "They know what they're getting with Liam, whereas with Tsolov, they don't," Button said. "So maybe they're excited about that. I don't know. But if they're there to score points at the moment, I would say Liam's your guy."
Lawson, in his second season with Racing Bulls, is competing for the 2027 seat against teammate Arvid Lindblad and Tsolov. The team has not yet announced its two‑driver lineup for next year.
During FP2 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, Lawson was involved in a collision with Max Verstappen that damaged both cars and prompted a red flag. Verstappen criticised Lawson’s conduct, calling the incident unwise given Lawson’s uncertain future. Lawson accepted responsibility, saying he had approached Verstappen to apologise. "I went to see Max to apologise because what happened doesn't need to happen," Lawson told the media. "I don't want to have that happen in the future. Obviously, right now, it's not the best time, so yeah, it's been a tricky day, honestly."
Lawson has worked with Verstappen as teammates in 2025 and 2026. He qualified eighth for the Mexico City race but was penalised one place for a grid penalty and was later disqualified from qualifying due to a technical breach.
Frequently asked questions
Who does Jenson Button endorse for Racing Bulls' 2027 seat?
Jenson Button endorses Liam Lawson.
Why does Button prefer Lawson over Nikola Tsolov?
Button cites Lawson’s consistency, experience, strong reliable performance and ability to earn points, while noting Tsolov’s inconsistencies and uncertain potential.
What happened between Lawson and Max Verstappen at the Mexico City Grand Prix?
During FP2, Lawson collided with Verstappen, damaging both cars and causing a red flag; Lawson accepted responsibility and apologized to Verstappen.