Liam Lawson: Red Bull confirm New Zealander as Max Verstappen’s team-mate for 2025 F1 season | F1 News

Red Bull have confirmed Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s team-mate for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The 22-year-old New Zealander was chosen over his 2024 team-mate Yuki Tsunoda to be promoted from Red Bull’s junior team RB to replace Sergio Perez.

Red Bull announced Lawson’s signing on Thursday, less than 24 hours after Perez’s exit had been confirmed.

“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.

“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 [Horner], Helmut [Marko] 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!”

Lawson is set to contest his first full F1 season having previously driven in a total of 11 Grands Prix, following cameos in each of the last two years.

He stepped in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo for five races in 2023, and then drove for the final six rounds of 2024 after the Australian was dropped.

Lawson has finished in the points three times, taking ninth place on each occasion. His best qualifying performance came as he took fifth in the wet at this year’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

He was outscored by Tsunoda during their time as team-mates, but showed enough to convince Red Bull boss Christian Horner that he possesses greater potential.

Lawson becomes Verstappen’s fifth team-mate since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016, and faces what many consider to be the toughest gig in F1 by going directly up against the driver that has won each of the last four world championships.

‘Liam can rise to the challenge’

Red Bull team principal Horner said: “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.”

Red Bull were dominant winners of the Constructors’ Championship in 2022 and 2023 but finished behind Ferrari and champions McLaren in 2024, as a drop off in performance saw them claim just two wins in the final 14 Grands Prix of the season.

Lawson’s Red Bull race debut will come as close to home as is possible on the current F1 calendar, at the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

Red Bull have yet to announce who will fill Lawson’s RB seat, but 20-year-old French driver Isack Hadjar, who is also a product of the team’s junior programme, is considered the hot favourite.

Red Bull lured by Lawson’s mentality

Sky Sports’ Craig Slater:

“It’s a little but tough on Yuki Tsunoda, who has outqualified Liam Lawson six to nil in the season just finished.

“My understanding is that it’s Lawson’s strength of character, and particular aspects of his mentality and attitude, which have maybe got him the nod ahead of Tsunoda. It’s a big opportunity for Lawson, but it’s also a very big task for a young driver to come in alongside Max Verstappen.

“Credit to Red Bull, who have this conveyor belt of talent, they’ve brought a lot of people of normal means into Formula 1, which has been the reserve of rich people by and large.

“Lawson has had to make sacrifices moving to Europe from New Zealand at the age of 16, away from his family. That is one of the reasons why he’s got this gig because he’s had to be a tough, strong individual.”

Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime