1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,440 Speaker 1: Liam Lawson will keep his Racing Bulls seat for twenty 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: twenty six. Red Bulls confirmed laws and will stay on 3 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,200 Speaker 1: and the junior team alongside Arvid Lindblood, who's earning his 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: F one debut. A Yuki Sonoda getting the boot. Isaac 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: Hedger is stepping up next to Max Verstappen. Eric Thompson 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,119 Speaker 1: is former motorcycle racer and Herold motorsport journalist with us 7 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: this morning. 8 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,479 Speaker 2: Eric, Good morning, Good morning, Ryan, how are you. 9 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,560 Speaker 1: I'm very well, Thank you. No, You've known non Liam 10 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:26,520 Speaker 1: since he was just a wee lad thirteen or so. 11 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: This is good news for him to be staying in contention. 12 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,839 Speaker 2: Ma, I'd like it's a shame. It's a shame as 13 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 2: a race this weekend because I think he would have 14 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 2: been pattying all night as he possibly could have, and know, 15 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,560 Speaker 2: and a relief that he's got a seat for next 16 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 2: year because it's especially a Formula one's cutthroat anyway, and 17 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 2: I've always been a big believer and a lot of 18 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 2: people don't quite understand. I think sometimes Ryan that just 19 00:00:54,960 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: to get the Formula one and to get on that 20 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: grid is a mountain higher than Everest time and you 21 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: tend to forget he's one of twenty to the best 22 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: drivers in the world, but to be confirmed for next 23 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 2: year will be a mighty relief for him, his support crew, 24 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 2: his management, his Bumba's dad, his family and all the 25 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 2: other people that have supported him emotionally this year. And 26 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: I just think it's a fantastic result. 27 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 1: Eric, how much does he have to prove this year? Well, 28 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 1: for twenty twenty six, Yeah sorry, yeah. 29 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 2: Sorry mate, Well he's still got a race to go 30 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: this year, so he can't just suddenly sit back and chill. 31 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 2: Now you're right there. He can't. You know, there's still 32 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 2: something to go in this year. But for twenty twenty six, 33 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 2: it's that will be the year for him to cement 34 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 2: his position on a Formula One grid, you know, and 35 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,640 Speaker 2: once you do that, you know you could get a 36 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 2: five to ten year career. You know. There's a lot 37 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: of drivers there that a lot of teams really appreciated 38 00:01:54,160 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 2: for their solid performance. And another thing that is incredibly 39 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 2: to these teams as Constructors Points championships. A lot of 40 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 2: the teams, although they say they like their drivers, they 41 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 2: think it's a wonderful those teams want to win the 42 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 2: Constructors or the manufacturer's title, because that's where all the 43 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: money comes from the bank, their chunk of change to 44 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: bank roll the teams. So for next year, part of 45 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 2: Len's job will be to keep earning points in every race. 46 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 2: Of course they want to win or get on the 47 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 2: podium without a doubt, but it's more about accumulating points. 48 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 2: So at the end of twenty twenty six they stayed 49 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 2: VCR Red Bulls stayed fift six seventh in the championship, 50 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,800 Speaker 2: pick up tens of millions of euros to go towards 51 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,359 Speaker 2: the following year, and if he can cement himself next year, 52 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: he'll be there for as long as he probably wants 53 00:02:44,120 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: to be. 54 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: Fantastic result, great news to be confirmed for us this morning, Eric, 55 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,799 Speaker 1: appreciate your time. Eric Thompson, former motorcycle racer, Hero Motorsport journalists. 56 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 1: For more from Early edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live 57 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: to news Talks it'd be from five am weekdays, or 58 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:00,919 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.