Liam Lawson's Formula 1 teammate Arvid Lindblad has opened up on the pair's relationship, saying their competitive dynamic has helped push the Racing Bulls team forward during a strong run of results.
Lawson, 24, and 19-year-old rookie teammate Lindblad had both enjoyed strong 2026 seasons, regularly fighting for points and emerging as a closely matched pairing at Racing Bulls.
The Kiwi currently sat ninth in the drivers’ standings on 43 points amid an increasingly impressive campaign, while Lindblad had impressed in his debut season and was close behind in 11th on 23 points.
Speaking to F1.com, Lindblad said he and Lawson had developed a healthy rivalry despite the pressure on them.
"Honestly, I’d say we have a good relationship. I think together we’ve done a really good job to have a good dynamic in general, really being able to switch between the on and off track," Lindblad said.
"On track, we both want to beat the other, and that’s the nature of sport, but when we are out of the car, we have a genuine, nice relationship, and there’s a nice dynamic within the team. That’s made it enjoyable."
The tight competition between the pair had produced several close battles on track throughout the season, with both drivers fighting to secure their futures in Formula 1.
Neither Lawson nor Lindblad had a confirmed seat at Racing Bulls for the 2027 season. Formula 2 driver Nikola Tsolov had also been linked to a seat at Racing Bulls next year.
Lindblad said he believed his rivalry with Lawson had helped extract more performance from both drivers.
"We’ve pushed each other on a lot, and I think that’s been good for both of us. It’s also good for the team, as the more we push each other, the more performance we get, and that’s showing through the results."
Racing Bulls’ improved form had also coincided with consistent upgrades to its car. Lindblad credited the team’s development work for its recent competitiveness, but said the pressure he and Lawson put on each other had also played a part.
"The team have done an amazing job to continue to bring performance to the car, and that is why we’ve been so competitive the last few weekends, but I also think me and Liam pushing each other every weekend has helped that."
Formula 1 will return from its mid-season break on Monday with the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort (1am NZT).
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