Racing Bulls Keeps Its Boss to 2031, but Lawson’s Future Is ‘Pretty Blurry’

Racing Bulls has extended team principal Alan Permane’s contract through the end of 2031.

Permane joined Racing Bulls in 2024 as Racing Director from Alpine and was appointed as F1 team principal in 2025 when Laurent Mekies moved to Red Bull. Permane is also Co-CEO Sporting, alongside Peter Bayer as Co-CEO Commercial.

Under him, Racing Bulls finished sixth in the constructors’ championship in 2025 and is set to finish fifth in the ongoing season, after a massive improvement as a midfield team. They have struggled for years, but are on the right path now.

Permane Says Racing Bulls Is ‘Not Done Yet’

“I am immensely proud to be continuing this journey with VCARB, and I would like to thank everyone at Red Bull for the trust and support they have given me,” said Permane. “What makes this team special is the shared spirit of everyone; trackside, in Faenza and in Milton Keynes, and it is a privilege to lead such a talented and committed group every day.

“Fighting for fifth in the Championship is something we should all be very proud of, but it is the result of years of hard work from a lot of people, and we are not done yet. We have the right people, the right culture and a clear sense of where we want to go, and I am excited to keep pushing together.”

Red Bull recently extended the deal with Laurent Mekies, and now Racing Bulls will see Permane as their leader to maintain stability. Red Bull GmbH CEO Oliver Mintzlaff hails the work done by the Brit in creating a perfect environment for everyone to excel.

Red Bull Chief Hails Positive Environment at Racing Bulls

“Alan is doing a tremendous job, and the progress the team has made is a direct reflection of his experience, commitment and competitive mindset,” said Mintzlaff. “He brings clarity, composure, and a deep understanding of what it takes to perform in Formula One, while creating an environment where people can consistently deliver at their best.

“The results Visa Cash App Racing Bulls has achieved in recent seasons underline the strength of the team and the work being done throughout the organization. Alan has played a key role in that progress, and we are very pleased that he will continue to lead the team as we look to build on this momentum in the years ahead.

“Together with Peter Bayer as Co-CEO Commercial, Alan forms a strong and experienced leadership team. They complement each other exceptionally well, bringing different strengths and perspectives to the organization. I am delighted that we have this stability and continuity in place, providing a clear platform for the team’s future development and long-term ambitions.”

Lawson Says His F1 Future Is ‘Pretty Blurry’

While the deal with Permane is sorted, there is growing speculation about Liam Lawson and his future with Racing Bulls. F2 title contender Nikola Tsolov is reportedly in contention to get the F1 nod, despite the performance put in by the Kiwi.

“It’s pretty blurry at the moment, honestly,” said Lawson in Brazil. “So yeah, not much indication of when [anything will happen]. I mean, it is hard, because I obviously think you want to enjoy the good results as much as possible. And for us, technically we’d had a great race [in Mexico].

“It was a very, very hard weekend qualifying. Again, we had a great qualifying, and then we obviously had the penalty. And we have a race like that, but I mean, it takes away from some of that emotion when the rest at the moment is obviously sort of undecided about my future.

“So yeah, obviously it’s just that, with all that in the back of your mind, it definitely takes away from some of the results that we’ve been having recently,” summed up Lawson.