Oracle Red Bull Racing has unveiled 22-year-old New Zealander Liam Lawson as its new driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season, replacing Sergio Pérez after a four-year stint with the team.
The announcement, made on Thursday (19 December), marks a significant career milestone for Lawson, who has been promoted from Red Bull’s junior team over his 2024 teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
Although Tsunoda outscored Lawson during their shared tenure, the young Kiwi’s promise and potential won over Red Bull’s top brass, including team principal Christian Horner.
“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,” Horner said.
“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.”
Horner acknowledged the formidable challenge Lawson will face alongside Verstappen, a four-time world champion widely regarded as one of F1’s greatest.
“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,” he added.
Lawson, who will enter his first full F1 season, expressed his excitement and gratitude.
“To be announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing Driver is a lifelong dream for me,” he said. “This is something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old.”
“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.”
“I also want to thank Christian [Horner], Helmut [Marko] and the whole Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.”
Reflecting on his journey, Lawson credited his six races in 2024 as vital preparation for the step-up.
“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,” he said.
Lawson’s brief but impressive F1 experience has already turned heads. He stepped in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo in five races during 2023 and took over for the final six rounds of 2024 after Ricciardo was dropped.
Across 11 Grand Prix outings, Lawson finished in the points three times, with ninth place his best race result.
His standout moment came during qualifying at this year’s rain-soaked Sao Paulo Grand Prix, where he secured a remarkable fifth place on the grid.
As Verstappen’s fifth teammate since 2016, Lawson faces one of F1’s toughest challenges: competing alongside a dominant champion who has claimed the last four drivers’ titles.
However, his determination and skill suggest he is ready to embrace the opportunity and leave his mark on the sport’s top tier.
The spotlight now turns to the 2025 season, where fans eagerly await to see how the young New Zealander measures up against the reigning champion in one of motorsport’s most high-profile teams.
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