F1 paddock rumours now suggest that three-DNF driver could lose his seat ‘before the year is out’

The majority of next season’s Formula 1 grid is already set after the chaos that ensued in the driver market last year.

With so many drivers switching teams at the end of 2024, many signed long-term contracts beyond this season and for a very good reason.

Next season sees the introduction of a new set of F1 regulations, and teams want to have a settled driver pairing so that they can use their feedback this year to guide the work they do behind the scenes for 2026.

The likes of Ferrari, McLaren and Williams have all tied their drivers down for next year and beyond, although virtually every contract includes certain performance clauses if one party wants to end their relationship early.

For example, Max Verstappen has a get-out clause in his Red Bull deal despite his agreement expiring at the end of 2028.

However, there are a group of drivers fighting for their futures in Formula 1 this season, particularly the rookies.

Neither Mercedes driver has a contract beyond 2025, while Alpine’s new signing Franco Colapinto could theoretically be replaced after four more races in the car.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, suggestions are coming out of the Red Bull camp that one of their drivers is under pressure to retain his seat until the end of the campaign.

READ MORE: Who is Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

Liam Lawson could be replaced by Arvid Lindblad ‘before the year is out’

A report from journalist Joe Saward on his blog has shared more details about the future of Racing Bulls star Liam Lawson.

Lawson started the season in the second Red Bull alongside Verstappen after impressing at the end of the 2024 campaign.

Christian Horner was particularly impressed with Lawson and chose him ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, but two races into the season, Red Bull decided that a change was already needed.

Now, Lawson is up against Isack Hadjar at Racing Bulls, and five races into their partnership, the French rookie is clearly on top.

Saward suggested that, “Back in the Paddock, there have been some rumours that Red Bull will replace Liam Lawson with Formula 2 Arvid Lindblad before the year is out.”

He points out that Arvid Lindblad only turns 18 in August so he’s not eligible for a super license before then.

However, after winning the Formula Regional Oceania Championship at the start of the year, he already has the required points to race in Formula 1, meaning his result in F2 this season is only relevant to Red Bull and whether he’s done enough to displace Lawson.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad including his parents

Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya agree on Liam Lawson’s fate

Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher were Williams teammates in the early 2000s.

Both drivers won several races for the team and have now gone on to have careers in the media.

Montoya has admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if Lawson is replaced based on his pointless start to 2025.

Schumacher also thinks Lawson is in danger of losing his seat, but this isn’t necessarily a reflection of his start to the season.

Red Bull have a reputation for a lack of patience and while they were happy to give Lawson – who has three F1 DNFs to his name – a chance in 2023 and 2024, first as a substitute for Daniel Ricciardo and then as his replacement, they’re aware that they need to keep the conveyor belt of drivers moving.

Lindblad is starting to get up to speed in F2 and impressed at Imola, finishing second in the Sprint Race and narrowly missing out on the podium in the Feature Race.

He’s now overtaken the next highest-ranking Red Bull junior Pepe Marti and is only 19 points off championship leader and McLaren junior Alex Dunne.