Liam Lawson To Be Max Verstappen Teammate In 2025

Liam Lawson is set to race alongside world champion Max Verstappen in 2025 following the departure of Sergio Perez from the team.

The announcement that Lawson has been promoted from second team Racing Bulls came a day after Red Bull and Perez announced they had agreed a termination deal following a weak season by the Mexican.

The New Zealander moves into the Formula 1 front-line after just 11 grands prix spread over two seasons.

Liam Lawson said, “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.”

Lawson becomes the fourth team-mate to Verstappen after Perez followed Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. 

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said, “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.”

Horner added, “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.”

Liam Lawson in Formula 1

Lawson made his F1 debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix as a substitute for Daniel Ricciardo, who broke his hand in a crash in practice at Zandvoort.

He scored a point for 10th place in only his third grand prix in Singapore before Ricciardo returned for the final four races of the season.

Ricciardo had originally been put in the car to establish his credentials to return to Red Bull alongside Verstappen, but he was dropped and replaced by Lawson after this year’s Singapore Grand Prix.

What led to Liam Lawson’s promotion

The team chose Lawson over team-mate Yuki Tsunoda. The Kiwi has out-qualified Tsunoda only twice since he returned, for the sprint races at the Sao Paulo and Qatar Grands Prix, and was on average 0.077 seconds slower over one lap.

However, Red Bull did not repose faith in Tsunoda, who is at Racing Bulls at the behest of engine supplier Honda, had what it takes to be a suitable driver for the senior team. 

A combative drive from Lawson at the United States Grand Prix to ninth place, where he got the better of Aston Martin’s two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, and a battle with Perez in Mexico City that ended in contact, are among the performances that have convinced them he is worth a chance.

His other points finish was another ninth place, after qualifying fifth, for the wet Sao Paulo Grand Prix – two places behind Tsunoda over both one lap and the race distance.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar, who finished second in Formula 2 this season, is expected to join Racing Bulls alongside Tsunoda. 

Liam Lawson replaced Sergio Perez as world champion Max Verstappen’s partner at Red Bull in 2025, the Formula 1 team announced on on Thursday. Perez, who joined Red Bull four years ago, parted ways with the F1 team after months of poor results.

The 22-year-old Lawson, thus switches from Racing Bulls, which is Red Bull’s sister team. Notably, Lawson raced as a replacement driver for Racing Bulls in 2023 and this year. His journey with Red Bull started way back when he joined the team’s junior program.

“There’s no doubt that racing alongside Max (Verstappen), a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said. “I’m sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year,” he added.

Also Read: Formula 1: Sergio Perez, Red Bull Part Ways Prematurely