World champion Max Verstappen and New Zealander Liam Lawson will compete for Red Bull next season after Sergio Perez was dropped.
The F1 team said Thursday that Liam Lawson, a New Zealander, will drive for Red Bull alongside world champion Max Verstappen next season following the decision to dismiss Sergio Perez. After just two seasons and 11 grand prix for the squad, Lawson, 22, who joined the Red Bull Junior Program five years ago, takes command. Following a lackluster season for the Mexican, Perez announced he had reached a termination agreement the day before. He was with the team for four seasons.
“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 stated.
“Working with Max and learning from a world champion excites me much, and I am confident that I will absorb his knowledge. I’m eager to get started.
Lawson replaces Red Bull’s sister squad Racing Bulls, and in his early F1 career, he has achieved three top-10 results.”I’m thrilled to share that Liam Lawson will be joining the Team in 2025,” Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, announced.
“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.”
At the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, Lawson made his Formula One debut after replacing Daniel Ricciardo, who was injured.
He was chosen for promotion over fellow RB driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan after making an impression after permanently replacing Ricciardo for the last six races of the 2024 season.”It’s been an incredible journey thus far,” Lawson said.
“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.”
