Max Verstappen will be joined by Liam Lawson at Red Bull for the upcoming season. The driver who will replace Lawson alongside Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bull has yet to be announced.
It was expected, and now it’s official: Liam Lawson will race for Red Bull in the 2025 season, which officially begins in March at the Albert Park circuit. There had already been signs of the New Zealander, born in 2002, moving to the Milton Keynes team, and just a few minutes ago, not even 24 hours after the announcement of Sergio Perez’s departure on the evening of December 18, it was confirmed that Lawson will wear the Red Bull colors alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen.
The 22-year-old from Hastings had already made his Formula 1 debut two seasons ago, stepping in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo. After the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, he joined the satellite team, Visa CashApp Racing Bulls, full-time, replacing the Australian. For 2025, Lawson has now received the promotion to the main Red Bull team under Christian Horner.
This means no seat for Yuki Tsunoda, who had the opportunity to test the RB20 at Yas Marina during the post-season tests, hoping for a move to Red Bull. Now, the only remaining piece to complete the 2025 Formula 1 line-up puzzle is the announcement of the driver who will sit alongside the Japanese driver, with Isack Hadjar being a strong contender.
“Being announced as a driver for Oracle Red Bull Racing is a dream come true for me,” said Lawson. “It’s something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old. It’s been an incredible journey so far. I want to sincerely thank the entire VCARB team for their support. The last six races have been crucial in preparing me for this next step. I also want to thank Christian [Horner, Red Bull Team Principal], Helmut [Marko, Red Bull Motorsport Advisor], and the whole Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a world champion. I have no doubt I will learn a lot from his experience. I can’t wait to get started! ”
Christian Horner added: “I am thrilled to announce that Liam Lawson will join the team in 2025. Liam’s performances during his two stints with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls have shown that not only is he capable of delivering great results, but he is also a true racer, unafraid to compete with the best and come out on top. His arrival continues the team’s long tradition of promoting drivers within the Red Bull Junior Program, following in the footsteps of champions like Sebastian Vettel and, of course, Max Verstappen. There is no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time world champion and undoubtedly one of the strongest drivers Formula 1 has ever seen, will be a tough challenge, but I am confident Liam will rise to it and deliver excellent results for us next year .”
Photo: Formula 1, VCARB.