Red Bull announce Liam Lawson as new race driver for 2025

Red Bull have announced that Liam Lawson as the team’s new race driver alongside Max Verstappen in 2025.

The New Zealander, who will turn 23 in February before the season opener, has been confirmed as the replacement for Sergio Perez at the Milton Keynes-based F1 team.

Lawson has previously raced for Red Bull’s second team, making 5 starts in 2023 as a stand-in for Daniel Ricciardo and then 6 in 2024 as a replacement for Ricciardo.

The New Zealander beat Japanese team-mate Yuki Tsunoda to take the seat with Red Bull, with Lawson to partner the 4-time world champion Max Verstappen.

News of his confirmation to join the team came the day after it was confirmed that Red Bull will be releasing Perez from the team after 4 seasons with the team.

Lawson said in a statement that he was delighted to get the job and was looking forward. The driver had previously been in Red Bull’s junior program at levels up to and including Formula 2.

He said, “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. 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, 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!”

Christian Horner, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO, added, “I’m 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. 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.”