Following Sergio Pérez’s departure from Red Bull Racing, the team has named his replacement for the 2025 season. New Zealand driver, Liam Lawson has been rewarded for his encouraging Visa Cash App Racing Bulls displays this season in the 2024 FIA Formula One World Championship with an Oracle Red Bull Racing seat for next year. He will now race alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
Here is all you need to know:
Liam Lawson joined the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2019 and, after multiple junior formula successes, he stepped up to finish second overall in the 2021 DTM series for Red Bull AF Corse.
The New Zealand native made his Formula One debut with Scuderia AlphaTauri at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix and he scored his first championship points in just his second outing at the Singapore GP before completing five races.
After taking up his Reserve Driver role with both teams in 2024, he returned with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and banked a points-scoring finish at this year’s United States Grand Prix with ninth place then followed up with another ninth place at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Stepping In
After completing the 2024 season alongside Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, the 22-year-old now takes the next step in his career and replaces Sergio Pérez.
The Mexican helped the team to second in the 2021 FIA Formula One World Championship, then two constructors’ titles back-to-back in 2022 and 2023 before a third place in 2024. He also secured second in the 2023 drivers’ title race behind Verstappen and third in the 2022 season.
The Driver Speaks
Speaking on his appointment, Lawson explained that being announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing Driver has been a lifelong dream. This is something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old,” he 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.”
The driver also thanked Christian (Horner), Helmut (Marko) and the whole Red Bull family for believing in him and giving him 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!”
A Word From The Boss
In a media statement, Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing announced that he is delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the Team in 2025.
“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,” he added.
“Liam’s 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.”
(Images: Red Bull)
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