Red Bull has officially announced Sergio Perez’s replacement for the 2025 F1 season, with Liam Lawson set to take the seat alongside Max Verstappen. The Kiwi driver was brought to RB mid-season to replace Daniel Ricciardo, as the Australian was unable to make an impression.
On Wednesday, December 18, Red Bull announced that Sergio Perez was going to leave the squad at the end of 2024. While there had been speculation about the Mexican’s future in the team since 2023, there was also a dearth of options when it came to picking a new teammate for Max Verstappen.
Such young talents as Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda were mentioned as potential candidates, but the seat was given to the Kiwi. According to the press release made by the team, Lawson was on file extending his gratitude to Red Bull saying.
‘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. That has been a very awesome experience so far. For that I would like to thank the whole VCARB team of helping me and the last six races have been a great build up to this next step.
Thanking the senior management, the 22-year-old added:
“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!”
Liam Lawson has done a decent enough job with RB in the six races that he got an opportunity in. The driver was able to match the pace of teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who was another candidate in contention to replace Perez.
Christian Horner gives his views on Red Bull’s new signing
Red Bull boss Christian Horner commended Liam Lawson for the job he’s done at RB despite the limited opportunities that he’s had with the team. The team principal backed the driver to excel and rise to the opportunity of being next to Max Verstappen as he said,
“I’m delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the Team in 2025,” 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.”
Further expressing hope in the young Kiwi’s potential to compete with his Dutch teammate, Horner added:
His arrival reaffirms a well-established tradition of Team to bring driver-from-the-factory from the Red Bull Junior Programme – the list of alumni includes such luminaries as championship racers and winners of many GP races such as Sebastian Vettel and not to mention — Max Verstappen. Of course, it will be a great challenge to partner with Max, a four-time world champion, and undoubtedly one of the best F1 drivers of all time, but I am sure that Liam will be able to achieve some brilliant results for us next season.
Like Gasly and Albon though, Lawson will face the polished copy of Verstappen in his team as Perez is replaced by him.