New Zealander Liam Lawson will step into the high-pressure role of Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull for the 2025 Formula One season, replacing Sergio Perez. The announcement follows Perez’s confirmed departure on Wednesday after a challenging season.
Lawson, 22, made his Formula One debut in 2023 as a substitute for the injured Daniel Ricciardo and returned for the final six races of 2024 when Ricciardo was dropped. His promotion from Red Bull’s junior team reflects the outfit’s tradition of nurturing talent through its development programme.
“This is a lifelong dream come true,” Lawson said in a statement. “Since I was eight years old, I’ve worked towards this moment. I’m excited to race alongside Max and learn from a four-time world champion. I can’t wait to get started.”
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner praised Lawson’s performances, calling him “a real racer” who has proven his readiness to compete at the highest level. “Racing alongside Max is a daunting challenge, but we’re confident Liam will rise to it and deliver outstanding results,” Horner added.
The move continues Red Bull’s practice of promoting from within, a strategy that has produced champions such as Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen himself.
However, the role of Verstappen’s teammate has historically been a tough assignment. Since joining Red Bull in 2016, Verstappen has consistently outperformed his partners, including Perez, who struggled in 2024 after finishing a distant second to Verstappen in 2023. Perez’s form collapsed this year, leaving him eighth in the standings, while Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive drivers’ title.
Lawson’s promotion creates a vacancy at Red Bull’s junior team, which will be rebranded as Racing Bulls next season. French-Algerian driver Isack Hadjar, the 2024 Formula Two runner-up, is widely expected to fill the seat.
Lawson will now face the challenge of competing alongside one of Formula One’s greatest talents in Verstappen, as Red Bull aims to extend its dominance into the 2025 season.
