Motoring
From Rookie to Red Bull: Liam Lawson’s Incredible Journey to F1 Glory
Liam Lawson will join Red Bull as Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 Formula 1 season, the team confirmed on Thursday.
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The announcement came just a day after Red Bull confirmed its decision to part ways with Sergio Perez, making room for the young New Zealand driver to step up from AlphaTauri. Lawson, 21, is set to make his full-time debut with the top-tier team, despite having limited experience in F1 so far, with just a handful of races under his belt.
Lawson first appeared on the F1 grid in 2023 when he replaced the injured Daniel Ricciardo for a series of races, including the Dutch Grand Prix, after Ricciardo suffered a wrist injury. During his five-race stint, Lawson’s best result was a ninth-place finish in Singapore. He continued in 2024 as a stand-in for Ricciardo at the United States Grand Prix after the team parted ways with the Australian driver. Lawson impressed with two ninth-place finishes at Austin and Brazil, making a solid case for a Red Bull seat.
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While Lawson was outqualified by teammate Yuki Tsunoda during their time together, Red Bull was impressed with his technical insight and racing mentality. His performance against top drivers like Fernando Alonso and occasional battles with Perez demonstrated that Lawson has the confidence and mindset needed to compete alongside Verstappen.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said, “Liam’s performances over the last two seasons have shown he’s not just capable of delivering strong results, but that he’s also a real racer. He’s not afraid to challenge the best and come out on top. This promotion continues the team’s tradition of promoting from within, with drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, and we’re confident Liam will rise to the challenge of racing alongside one of the greatest drivers in F1 history.”
Lawson expressed his excitement about joining Red Bull, stating, “Being announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing driver is a dream come true. I’ve worked towards this moment since I was eight years old. I’m incredibly thankful to the VCARB team for their support. The past six races have been crucial in preparing me for this next step. I’m excited to learn from Max and can’t wait to get started.”
Red Bull has yet to announce who will replace Lawson at AlphaTauri, but junior driver Isack Hadjar, who competed for the F2 championship in 2024, is expected to be promoted.
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