Red Bull has confirmed that Liam Lawson will be Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
The 22-year-old New Zealander has been selected over 2024 team-mate Yuki Tsunoda to be promoted from the Red Bull junior squad to replace Sergio Perez.
Red Bull announced the signing of Lawson on Thursday, less than 24 hours after Perez’s exit was confirmed.
“Announcing that I am an Oracle Red Bull Racing driver is a lifelong dream of mine and something I have wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old,” Lawson said.
“It has been an amazing journey so far. I want to say a huge thank you to the entire VCARB team for their support, the last six races have played a huge role in preparing me for this next step.
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“I also want to thank Christian [Horner]Helmut [Marko] And the entire Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.
“I’m very excited to work alongside Max and learn from the world champion, and I have no doubt that I will learn from his experience. I can’t wait to get started!”
Lawson is set to contest his first full season in Formula 1 having previously driven a total of 11 Grands Prix, having appeared in each of the past two years.
He replaced the injured Daniel Ricciardo for five races in 2023, then drove for the final six rounds of 2024 after the Australian was ruled out.
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Sergio Perez clashed with Visa Cash App RB’s Liam Lawson at the Mexico City Grand Prix
Lawson finished in the points three times and finished ninth on each occasion. His best qualifying performance came when he finished fifth in this year’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
He was outclassed by Tsunoda during their time as teammates, but he has shown enough to convince Red Bull boss Christian Horner that he has greater potential.
Lawson becomes Verstappen’s fifth team-mate since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016, and faces what many consider to be the toughest task in Formula 1 by going head-to-head with the driver who has won each of the last four world championships.
“Liam can rise to the challenge.”
“Liam’s performances over his two spells with the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls have shown that he is not only capable of producing strong results, but that he is also a true racer, and not afraid to mix it up with the best,” said Red Bull Team Principal Horner. And come out on top.
“His arrival continues the team’s long history of promotion from within the Red Bull Junior program and follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course Max Verstappen.
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“There is no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and one of the greatest drivers ever in Formula 1, is a daunting task, but I am sure Liam can rise to this challenge and deliver some great results for us next year.”
Red Bull were dominant winners of the Constructors’ Championship in 2022 and 2023, but finished behind champions Ferrari and champion McLaren in 2024, with a decline in performance resulting in just two wins in the final 14 grands prix of the season.
Lawson’s Red Bull Racing debut will be as close to home as possible on the current Formula 1 calendar, at the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Red Bull is yet to announce who will take Lawson’s RB seat, but 20-year-old French driver Isac Hajjar, also a product of the team’s youth programme, is considered the favorite.
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Liam Lawson recalls his successful return to Formula 1 after the Team RB driver worked his way from the back of the grid to finish ninth at the US Grand Prix
Red Bull were tempted by Lawson’s mentality
Sky Sports Craig Slater:
“It’s a bit difficult but it’s tough for Yuki Tsunoda, who beat Liam Lawson six to nil in the season that just ended.
“My understanding is that it was Lawson’s strength of character, certain aspects of his mentality and behaviour, that probably put him ahead of Tsunoda. It’s a big opportunity for Lawson, but it’s also a very big task for a young driver to get ahead of Tsunoda. Come along with Max Verstappen.
“Credit to Red Bull, who have this conveyor belt of talent, they have brought a lot of people of ordinary ability into Formula 1, which has been a reserve for the rich in general.
“Lawson had to make the sacrifice of moving to Europe from New Zealand at the age of 16, away from his family. That’s one of the reasons he got this job because he had to be a strong, strong person.”
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