Going from no F1 seat to Red Bull drive in six months feels “crazy”

Liam Lawson said he is astonished by how quickly Red Bull have propelled him into their Formula 1 driver line-up for next year.

The team confirmed yesterday Lawson will partner Max Verstappen in 2025. Lawson began the year as a reserve driver for the team and started his first F1 race in October for RB after they dropped Daniel Ricciardo from their line-up. “It’s been a crazy six months,” Lawson said.

“Six months ago I was not really sure how it was going to work out,” he told the official Red Bull channel. “Obviously I was hoping to get a seat. Six months later to be in a position now to be going into this team, it’s very exciting. Obviously it’s going to be a lot of work ahead, but I’m just super motivated to get into it.”

Lawson, who also started five rounds as a substitute in 2023, said that first grand prix was the highlight of his return to F1 this year. After starting 19th on the grid due to a power unit penalty he climbed 10 places to finish in the points.

“Austin was really cool,” he said, “my debut as a main driver, getting to run my own number on the car that was something that was that means a lot to me. And coming from the back as well, having a really cool race, scoring points, that was probably the highlight.

“But it’s been intense. Two triple headers to start and finish the season for me, that’s my whole season so far.”

The 20-year old won promotion to Red Bull’s top team despite only having driven in 11 rounds over the past two years. “I haven’t actually done a full season, so I’ll be going into to next year and my first full season,” he said.

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“So it’s going to be probably quite similar learning new tracks, trying to get up to speed as quickly as possible – just with probably a lot more eyes on me as well.”

He will go up against Max Verstappen at Red Bull next year. Lawson said the world champion has been supportive so far in his career.

“Even when I was in Super Formula and all the other categories – I think Max is somebody that just loves motorsport and watches a lot of it – so he has always been kind and supportive.

“When I came in last year as a reserve when I was obviously feeling a lot of pressure and Zandvoort, he was somebody that was really good to talk to. So it’s cool to go up against him and have him as a team mate. There’s nobody better to learn from.”

While Lawson said his ultimate goal is to win the championship for himself, his immediate priority will be to help Red Bull regain the constructors’ trophy they lost to McLaren this year.

“Obviously, as Formula 1 drivers, we all have one goal that we share and that’s winning a world championship,” he said. “So that is my goal, that’s been my goal since I was a kid and wanted to be a Formula 1 driver and obviously now I’m in a great position.

“It’s definitely not what I expect coming in, I don’t expect to come in and go straight away and win a world championship. I know that the team’s goal is obviously the constructors and that’s what I’m here to do, I’m here to help achieve that.

“But personally, for me, it’s trying to be in a competitive position as quickly as possible. Obviously I’ve got the best guy as my team mate to learn from.”

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