Liam Lawson steps up from racing bulls to Red Bull for 2025, joining Max Verstappen as the team parted ways with Sergio Perez after a difficult season.

In a dramatic shift within Formula 1, New Zealand’s Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull Racing for the 2025 season. Lawson, who spent two seasons with the team’s second squad, Racing Bulls, will now team up with world champion Max Verstappen after Red Bull confirmed the termination of Perez’s contract following a lacklustre performance in 2024.

Lawson, just 22 years old, will make the jump to F1’s front-line squad after only 11 Grand Prix starts across two seasons. Despite not consistently outperforming his Racing Bulls teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson has demonstrated a tenacity and ability to battle at the highest level, traits Red Bull found compelling enough to make him Verstappen’s new teammate.

“Liam’s performances during his time with Racing Bulls have shown that he’s capable of delivering strong results,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “He’s a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top.”

Lawson’s rise is nothing short of impressive. His F1 debut came in 2023 at the Dutch Grand Prix when he replaced an injured Daniel Ricciardo. His first points came just a few races later in Singapore, where he secured a 10th-place finish in only his third race. His performances throughout the season – particularly a notable ninth-place finish at the United States Grand Prix – caught the attention of Red Bull, especially his competitive edge against seasoned rivals like Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez.

Although Lawson has not consistently outpaced Tsunoda, his performances, especially in difficult conditions, seem to have persuaded Red Bull that he is the better choice for a second seat. “Racing alongside Max Verstappen, one of the greatest drivers F1 has ever seen, is a daunting task, but we believe Liam can rise to that challenge,” Horner continued.

Perez, who has struggled to maintain consistency in 2024, becomes the latest in a series of Red Bull drivers – following Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon – to be dropped for not meeting the team’s high expectations. The Mexican driver’s failure to deliver the level of performance expected at Red Bull, particularly when compared to Verstappen’s dominance, led to his departure.

Lawson’s own path to Red Bull hasn’t been entirely smooth either. Despite showing promise, he has only managed to out-qualify Tsunoda twice, but it’s his performances in the heat of battle that have left a lasting impression. A combative drive to ninth in the US Grand Prix, where he outpaced two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, and his aggressive race with Perez in Mexico City, where they made contact, highlighted his potential.

Looking ahead, Lawson is eager for the challenge. “To be announced as a Red Bull Racing driver is a lifelong dream for me. This is something I’ve worked towards since I was eight years old,” he said. “I am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a world champion. I can’t wait to get going.”

Meanwhile, French driver Isack Hadjar, who finished second in Formula 2 this season, is expected to join Racing Bulls alongside Tsunoda for 2025.