Liam Lawson, a New Zealand-born driver, has been confirmed as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull for the 2025 Formula 1 season. This announcement follows Red Bull’s decision to part ways with Mexican driver Sergio Perez, after a disappointing season. Lawson will step up from Red Bull’s second team, Racing Bulls, after competing in just 11 F1 races across two seasons.
While Lawson did not consistently outperform his Racing Bulls teammate Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull has opted to promote the 22-year-old over the Japanese driver. Lawson’s performance during his stints with Racing Bulls impressed the team, and they believe he has what it takes to compete at the front of the grid.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised Lawson’s capabilities, saying, “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.”
Lawson’s promotion makes him the fourth teammate to Verstappen since Australian Daniel Ricciardo left Red Bull at the end of 2018. He follows in the footsteps of Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and now Perez, who was dismissed after failing to meet Red Bull’s expectations for a second driver.
Horner also acknowledged the challenge of racing alongside Verstappen, one of the greatest drivers in F1 history, but expressed confidence in Lawson’s ability to rise to the occasion. “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 made his F1 debut in 2023, filling in for Ricciardo at the Dutch Grand Prix after the Australian suffered a hand injury. He quickly made his mark, securing a point for 10th place at the Singapore Grand Prix in just his third race. Despite returning to a reserve role after Ricciardo’s recovery, Lawson was promoted to replace Perez after the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix.
Although Lawson was out-qualified by Tsunoda for much of the season, he delivered standout performances, including a ninth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix, where he outpaced two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. Lawson also earned another ninth-place finish in the wet conditions at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, after qualifying in fifth.
Reflecting on his promotion, Lawson expressed his excitement: “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. 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.”
As Lawson steps into the main Red Bull seat, French driver Isack Hadjar, who finished second in the 2023 Formula 2 season, is expected to join Racing Bulls alongside Tsunoda for the upcoming season.
