Lawson confirmed as Verstappen’s new team mate for 2025 · RaceFans

Red Bull have named Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s new team mate for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The 22-year-old, who made his F1 debut last year and has started just 11 grands prix, will start his first full season at the team.

Lawson replaces Sergio Perez, whose departure from the team after a four-year stint alongside Verstappen was announced yesterday. Verstappen’s new team mate will be his fifth since he joined Red Bull in 2016.

He said he had achieved “a lifelong dream” by joining Red Bull. “This is something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old.”

Red Bull handed Lawson his F1 debut at their junior team, then known as AlphaTauri, in 2023 as a substitute for the injured Daniel Ricciardo. They then called Lawson back up to replace Ricciardo following this year’s Singapore Grand Prix.

Team principal Christian Horner said Lawson’s performances in F1 so far “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.”

Verstappen comprehensively out-performed Perez and his two immediate predecessors, Alexander Albon and Pierre Gasly. Horner admitted joining Verstappen will be “a daunting task” for Lawson, “but I’m sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year.”

Lawson was chosen over his RB team mate Yuki Tsunoda, who will go into his fifth season with Red Bull’s second squad next year. His team mate for 2025 has not been announced, but the team is expected to promote Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar.

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