Red Bull confirmed that Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez in 2025 and will drive alongside Max Verstappen.
Just yesterday, the Milton Keynes outfit publicly revealed that Perez will no longer be a Red Bull driver. Lawson will step in after having driven a few races last year when Daniel Ricciardo got hurt, and after having replaced the Aussie once again for the last part of the 2024 season.
Despite being outpaced by Yuki Tsunoda most of the time, Red Bull still chose the New Zealander over the Japanese.
Team principal Christian Horner commented on the decision, saying that Lawson proved to be quick on track and that his promotion is yet another step forward for the Red Bull junior program.
“Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with Visa Cash App 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.
“His arrival continues the team’s long history of promoting from within the Red Bull junior program and he follows in the footsteps of championship- and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course, Max Verstappen.”
Horner also stressed that being Verstappen’s teammate won’t be easy, but he believes that Lawson can still perform well.
“There’s no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I’m sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year.”
Lawson also spent a few words on his incredible journey that brought him to drive for Red Bull, highlighting how excited he is to tackle this challenge.
“To be announced as an Oracle 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.
“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.
“I also want to thank, Christian, Helmut [Marko], and the whole Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. 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!”
It’s not the first time that the Milton Keynes outfit promoted a young driver from the Junior Academy. In fact, they did it with Pierre Gasly and Alexander Albon, something which didn’t really pay off for the team. Horner and the rest of the squad are hopeful that Lawson is the right choice that gives Red Bull stability and performance on track every single race.