Liam Lawson believes that having access to Max Verstappen’s data will “make me better” as he goes up against the reigning Formula 1 champion at Red Bull in 2025.
Having announced that Sergio Perez will not retain his drive into next season, Red Bull has now revealed the expected news that Lawson will take the Mexican’s place.
Lawson’s step up to the senior Red Bull team has materialised despite having made less than a dozen starts in F1 with the group’s sister squad, RB, across two spells.
However, Lawson, who replaced Daniel Ricciardo with five rounds to go in 2024, has impressed Red Bull enough to be picked over the more established Yuki Tsunoda.
But while he’s acknowledged the daunting task ahead, Lawson sees his chance to be pitted against Verstappen in equal equipment as a prime opportunity to improve.
“I think it would be the biggest challenge to go up against Max,” Lawson told media including Motorsport Week prior to the announcement.
“In a way it’s the best seat on the grid to be in. You get to learn directly off the best guy.
“To have access to his data every single session, to see exactly how he’s performing.
“For me as a driver who’s come into Formula 1, and is developing, it’s the best possible situation for me to be in.
“It would be what I would love. To have that data is what’s going to make me better.”
Lawson has a rapport with Verstappen
Lawson, who has been embedded within the Red Bull stable since 2019, has explained that his stint in a reserve role helped him to build up a rapport with Verstappen.
Asked whether he harbours an existing personal relationship with Verstappen, Lawson responded: “I think yes.
“Over the last few years obviously being [a] reserve. I also was [a] reserve for Red Bull Racing and spent time in both garages.
“Some races I would do Red Bull, some races I would do VCARB. And I spent a lot of time with both teams.
“So I did spend a lot of time with Max. And obviously I got to see how he works as well.”
Lawson can handle Red Bull pressure
The second spot alongside Verstappen at Red Bull has become renowned as a poisoned chalice, with Perez becoming the third driver to be dropped having struggled.
However, Lawson has stressed that the pressure he has been exposed to during his time in the Red Bull setup has prepared him to deal with the move to the top team.
“I’ve been in this junior team for a long time,” he highlighted.
“This is the end of my sixth year with Red Bull and that pressure comes the second… for me I was 16 years old and I’d never felt pressure like that. I never knew it could be like that.
“To be honest going into a racing season, I think that’s one of the benefits of being with Red Bull for so long.
“In a way it builds you for Formula 1. To step into Formula 1 without that experience of having that pressure on you from a young age I think it would be really, really tough.
“I’m grateful to have had that for so many years.”
READ MORE – Red Bull hints at reason Liam Lawson was chosen over Yuki Tsunoda
