Liam Lawson Returned to Racing Bulls Seat
The driver prepares for the upcoming race in Baku as the team defends its championship standing.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Motorsports
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Liam Lawson has returned to the Racing Bulls driver seat to compete in the upcoming race weekend in Baku. The team currently holds a narrow advantage in the constructors championship standings.
Why it matters
Securing fifth place in the constructors championship is critical for the team, as the final position determines a prize payout exceeding $183 million. The team must protect its lead against an Alpine squad that recently surged by securing 16 points.
Racing Bulls enters the weekend with an 11-point lead over Alpine in the constructors championship. Liam Lawson, currently ninth in the drivers championship, holds an 18-point advantage over Pierre Gasly.
The players
Liam Lawson
He is a professional racing driver currently competing for the Racing Bulls team and holding ninth place in the drivers championship.
Racing Bulls
This is a Formula 1 team currently engaged in a high-stakes battle for fifth place in the constructors championship.
Alpine
This is a rival Formula 1 team that is currently trailing Racing Bulls in the constructors championship by 11 points.
Pierre Gasly
He is a professional racing driver who sits behind Liam Lawson in the current drivers championship standings.
The details
Lawson spent the past month training for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls programs before shifting his full focus to the Racing Bulls car this week. The team anticipates a difficult weekend as they navigate the technical requirements of the new 2026 regulations in Azerbaijan.
Timeline
12 months ago: Lawson qualified third and finished fifth in Baku.
Past month: Lawson prepared to drive both Red Bull and Racing Bulls.
This week: Lawson prepared solely for the Racing Bulls team.
The Stats
Comparing current team performance to the 2025 Baku Grand Prix provides a clear historical baseline for the driver's ability on this specific circuit. This upcoming race builds upon Lawson's previous success at the circuit, where he qualified third and finished fifth one year ago.
With Racing Bulls holding an 11-point lead over Alpine, the team's ability to retain fifth place will be decided by their performance under the new regulations this weekend. Fans should monitor qualifying and final race results to see if Lawson can maintain his 18-point buffer over Pierre Gasly.
The takeaway
The team's financial future hinges on protecting their current standings against aggressive mid-field rivals like Alpine. Consistent performance in high-stakes venues like Baku remains the most reliable strategy for securing end-of-season prize payouts.
Further reading
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