Liam Lawson has been promoted to Red Bull for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign, replacing Sergio Perez, the team announced on Thursday.
Perez’s future had been repeatedly scrutinized amid a disastrous campaign in which he finished eighth in the Drivers’ standings and the Mexican and Red Bull parted ways via a joint announcement on Wednesday.
Lawson, who made a starring cameo at AlphaTauri in 2023, returned to the rebranded RB outfit in place of Daniel Ricciardo from the United States Grand Prix onwards.
The New Zealander was then compared to team-mate Yuki Tsunoda and Perez as Red Bull assessed his validity for taking on the most difficult job in F1: being Max Verstappen‘s teammate.
“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,” said Lawson.
“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 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!”
Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner added: “I’m delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the Team in 2025. 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 Programme and he follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course, Max Verstappen.
“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 has the toughest task in F1
Lawson’s task will be to shrink the chasm between the two sides of the Red Bull garage by Perez’s dwindling form.
The Mexican’s points tally in 2024 was 152, 285 behind title-winning team-mate Verstappen and largely the reason why Red Bull fell to third in the Constructors’ standings.
That slide cost the team 10s of millions in prize money, with Lawson given the unenviable task of helping Red Bull recover lost ground in 2025.
The New Zealander’s promotion means Tsunoda will stay at RB for a fifth consecutive season, overlooked, despite outqualifying Lawson six to nought in traditional sessions – Lawson outqualified Tsunoda two to one in Sprint Qualifying.
Verstappen has seen several team-mates come and go under the weight of expectation to try and match him and now it’s Lawson’s turn to take on one of the toughest gigs in F1.
READ MORE – Sergio Perez and Red Bull part ways with immediate effect
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