In a major shakeup for the 2025 Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing has confirmed that their junior driver Liam Lawson will be promoted to a full-time race seat, replacing the departing Sergio Pérez as Max Verstappen’s teammate. The 22-year-old New Zealander faces the daunting task of partnering the four-time world champion, but team principal Christian Horner is confident Lawson has what it takes to deliver strong results for the team.
A Dream Come True for Lawson
For Liam Lawson, the confirmation of his 2025 Red Bull seat is the realization of a lifelong ambition. Having joined the Red Bull junior programme back in 2019, Lawson has steadily worked his way up the ranks, impressing in his limited F1 outings to date.
“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,” Lawson said of his promotion. “It’s been an incredible journey so far.”
– Liam Lawson
Lawson made his F1 debut standing in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri in 2023, before getting a further opportunity with six races for Red Bull at the end of 2024 following Pérez’s early exit. Those outings clearly did enough to convince Horner and the Red Bull hierarchy of his potential.
Learning from a Legend
While undoubtedly excited by the opportunity ahead of him, Lawson also acknowledges the scale of the challenge in going up against Verstappen, widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in F1 history.
“I am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a world champion, I have no doubt I will learn from his expertise,” Lawson noted. “I can’t wait to get going!”
– Liam Lawson
With 56 victories and 4 drivers’ titles to his name at just 27 years of age, Verstappen will provide the ultimate benchmark for Lawson. How quickly the young Kiwi can get up to speed and push his illustrious teammate will be a key storyline to follow in 2025.
Red Bull’s Next Homegrown Star?
For Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, Lawson’s promotion continues the outfit’s tradition of bringing through young talent from their own development programme. In Lawson, Horner sees shades of the team’s previous success stories.
“Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with us 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 enthused.
“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.”
– Christian Horner
Those are big shoes to fill, but Horner is bullish about his new charge’s prospects, even in the face of partnering a driver of Verstappen’s caliber.
“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.”
– Christian Horner
Pérez Leaves Big Shoes to Fill
Of course, Lawson’s opportunity comes as a result of Sergio Pérez’s departure from Red Bull, announced by the team on Wednesday. The Mexican driver had endured a difficult 2024 campaign, struggling to match Verstappen’s pace and losing crucial points through reliability issues and mistakes.
Despite winning five races over his Red Bull tenure and playing a key role in Verstappen’s 2022 title triumph, Pérez ultimately fell short of the team’s expectations. His exit opens the door for a new face, but leaves Lawson with a tough act to follow.
A Tough Decision for Red Bull
In the end, Red Bull’s decision to promote Lawson over their other junior driver, Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda, came down to fine margins. Both impressed in their limited outings for the team, but it was Lawson who ultimately got the nod.
“It was a very tight call, and one that required a lot of analysis and consideration,” Horner revealed.
“In the end, we felt Liam’s performances, his maturity and his potential just edged it over Yuki, who we still rate extremely highly.”
– Christian Horner
Horner did hint that Tsunoda remains firmly in the frame for a future opportunity, should he continue to impress.
A New Era for Red Bull
Liam Lawson’s promotion, alongside the continuing dominance of Max Verstappen, signals the start of a new chapter for Red Bull Racing. With one of the sport’s all-time greats leading the line and one of its brightest young talents waiting in the wings, the team looks well placed to remain at the forefront of Formula 1 for years to come.
The 2025 season will be a baptism of fire for Lawson, as he seeks to prove himself worthy of a seat at F1’s top table. But with the backing of Red Bull, the guidance of Verstappen, and an abundance of natural talent, few would bet against him rising to the occasion.
As the Red Bull conveyor belt of young talent continues to churn out future stars, Liam Lawson looks set to be the next cab off the rank. 2025 will reveal whether he can transform potential into performance on the sport’s biggest stage.
