After the farewell of Sergio Perez (read here) the formalization of the hiring of was awaited Liam Lawson by Red Bull. The official announcement has just arrived: the New Zealander will be the new teammate of Max Verstappen for 2025.
Liam Lawson – Red Bull, here is the team statement:
Liam, originally from New Zealand, joined the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2019 and, after several successes in the junior formula, made his Formula One debut with the Scuderia AlphaTauri at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prixin place of the injured person Daniel Ricciardo. He scored his first championship points in just his second outing at the Singapore GP and completed five races in total for the team.
After taking on a reserve driver role with both teams at the start of 2024, Liam returned to racing with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls with a points finish at this year’s United States Grand Prix. Now, after completing the season with VCARB, the 22-year-old takes the next step in his career with a seat at Oracle Red Bull Racing.
Liam Lawson said: “Being announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing Driver is a lifelong dream for me, 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 say a huge thank you to the entire VCARB team for their support, the last six races have played a huge role in my preparation for this next step.”
“I also want to thank Christian, Helmut 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 that I will learn from his experience. I can’t wait to get started!“.
Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said: “I am delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will be joining the Team in 2025. Liam’s performances over the course of his two spells with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls have shown that not only is he capable of achieving great results, but that he is also a true driver , who is not afraid to compete with the best and come out on top.”
“His arrival continues the team’s long history of promotion within the Red Bull Junior program and follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and, of course, Max Verstappen. There is no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I am sure that Liam can rise to this challenge and achieve outstanding results for us next year“.
Photo credits: Oracle Red Bull Racing, VCARB
