Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane: Here’s what he has to say about Liam Lawson’s future

The Visa Cash App Racing Bulls team announced yesterday, Friday, that Alan Permane’s contract had been extended. The Briton will therefore remain team principal at the Faenza-based team for at least another five years. However, it is not yet clear which drivers will line up on the Formula 1 grid for Red Bull Racing’s sister team next year.

Reporters agree that rookie Arvid Lindblad deserves another season. His team-mate Liam Lawson has also achieved many impressive feats this year. Nevertheless, the New Zealander’s seat is under threat, as Nikola Tsolov – a Red Bull junior talent on the cusp of the top flight – is proving hard to ignore.

The Bulgarian is competing in Formula 2 this year and is proving time and again that he is ready for promotion to the top flight. Whether this will happen next year, however, remains unclear, as Permane is keeping his cards close to his chest on this matter.

Alan Permane: Understanding the drivers’ frustration

When asked about this at the team principals’ press conference in Interlagos, the Briton said: “As always, the most important factor is speed; that is the single most important thing we look at. But we are not a team that is just there to take part. We’re here to nurture young talent, so we have to keep that in mind. And that doesn’t necessarily mean we simply put young talent in the car one after the other. We might also need some experience to be able to assess that talent.”

“So it’s not an easy decision, and I understand that it’s frustrating, even for my drivers. But we’ll know soon,” promises Permane, who speaks of a scientific approach to the selection process. “It just takes a bit of time; we’re looking at everything, analysing it, and we’ve got time on our side. We don’t need to rush anything, and I’m very confident that we’ll make the right decision. I understand that it’s frustrating for everyone, but we want to get this right, and we will. I’m sure everyone will be happy when we confirm how we’re moving forward in the coming weeks.”

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