Liam Lawson Joins Red Bull as Verstappen’s Teammate for the 2025 Formula 1 Season
Liam Lawson, a 22-year-old New Zealander, has been confirmed as Max Verstappen’s new team-mate at Red Bull Racing for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Lawson’s promotion comes after the team announced the departure of Sergio Perez following a challenging season for the Mexican driver.
The decision marks a significant step for Lawson, who has spent the last two years racing with Red Bull's junior team. Despite a mixed record alongside team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson’s potential caught the eye of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner.
“Liam's performances over the course of his two stints with Racing Bulls have demonstrated that he's not only capable of delivering strong results but that he's also a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top,” Horner said.
Lawson’s F1 journey so far
Lawson’s F1 journey began in 2023 when he substituted for an injured Daniel Ricciardo at the Dutch Grand Prix. His debut season saw him score his first points with a tenth-place finish in Singapore. In 2024, he returned to the Racing Bulls lineup after Ricciardo’s underwhelming performance and showed flashes of brilliance, including a ninth-place finish in Sao Paulo, where he qualified fifth in wet conditions.
The young driver acknowledged the challenges ahead, especially given Verstappen’s dominance, but expressed excitement about the opportunity. “To be announced as a Red Bull Racing driver is a lifelong dream for me, this is something I've wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old,” Lawson said. “It's been an incredible journey so far. I am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a world champion, I have no doubt I will learn from his expertise. I can't wait to get going.”
Addition of Lawson follows Red Bull history of promoting from within the Junior Programme
The move comes as Red Bull aims to rebound from a dip in form during the 2024 season. After dominating in 2022 and 2023, they finished behind Ferrari and McLaren this year, with just two wins in the final 14 races. Horner emphasized the importance of Lawson’s promotion in continuing Red Bull’s legacy of nurturing talent: His arrival continues the team's long history of promoting from within the Red Bull Junior Programme and he follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course, Max Verstappen.”
Verstappen, a four-time world champion, has had a string of team-mates who have struggled to match his pace. Lawson will be his fifth since 2016, following Perez, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Daniel Ricciardo.
Lawson’s first full season will kick off at the Australian Grand Prix on March 16th, 2025, which is as close to a home race as he’ll get. Reflecting on his journey so far, he credited the Red Bull family for supporting his development. “It's been an incredible journey so far. I want to say a massive thank you to the whole team at VCARB for their support, the last six races have played a huge part in my preparation for this next step,” he said.
While Lawson prepares for his debut with Red Bull, speculation surrounds who will fill his vacated seat at Racing Bulls. French driver Isack Hadjar, another graduate of the Red Bull Junior Programme, is rumored to be the leading candidate.
