APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Racing Bulls set clear guidelines for Lawson and Lindblad rivalry
While RB management has granted their drivers the freedom to compete on track, a single non-negotiable rule remains in place for the teammates.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-18T17:08:51.000Z - 2 min read
The internal dynamic at Racing Bulls has entered a new phase as the team confirms its operational policy for teammates Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad. Following a first half of the season defined by Lindblad's adjustment to the top tier of motorsport, the team has formally communicated that both drivers are permitted to race one another without restriction.
Lindblad, who turned heads with an eighth-place finish in his Formula 1 debut in Australia, has navigated a challenging learning curve throughout his opening campaign. Despite his initial points haul, the 19-year-old Briton experienced a lean spell through the Japanese, Miami, and Canadian Grands Prix, though recent performances have suggested a return to form for the rookie.
The open-racing mandate suggests confidence from the pit wall in the professional maturity of both drivers. Lawson, now more experienced in the high-pressure environment of the midfield, and Lindblad, whose junior pedigree earned him this seat, are not currently subject to team orders that would dictate track position under normal race conditions.
However, this freedom is not absolute. While both men are encouraged to push the car to its limit and fight for position, Racing Bulls has established a singular, overriding rule governing their behavior on track. The instruction is designed to protect the collective interests of the constructor, ensuring that individual ambition does not escalate into contact or compromised race results for the team.
This measured approach is indicative of the typical balancing act required of a team operating in the thick of the midfield. By allowing internal competition, management expects to extract maximum performance from the chassis, yet the existence of a firm boundary highlights the precarious nature of tight points battles where every finish is vital for the team’s standing in the championship.
As the season progresses, the relationship between the two will be monitored closely. For Lindblad, the focus remains on building consistency after his early-season struggles, while Lawson faces the pressure of cementing his own status within the Red Bull family. The balance between their individual aspirations and the team’s firm regulation will remain a central theme for the Racing Bulls garage.