Red Bull have chosen Liam Lawson to become Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 season after Sergio Perez was axed on Wednesday, Afrosport reports.
Lawson has been promoted from Red Bull sister Racing Bulls after a disappointing 2024 season that saw Perez finish eighth in the drivers’ championship while Red Bull finished third in the constructors’ championship behind McLaren and Ferrari.
The 22-year-old New Zealander has only made 11 starts in F1 and contested six races at the end of 2024 after replacing Daniel Ricciardo. He previously filled in for the Australian at five rounds during 2023 when he was injured.
Lawson scored points in his first outing this year at United States Grand Prix in Austin and also finished in the top 10 in Sao Paulo, and is reported to have been informed he would be promoted before the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“To be announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing Driver is a lifelong dream for me, this is something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old,” Lawson told the Red Bull Racing website.
“It’s been an incredible journey so far. I want to say a massive thank you to the whole team at VCARB for their support, the last six races have played a huge part 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 am super excited to work alongside Max and learn from a World Champion, I have no doubt I will learn from his expertise. I can’t wait to get going!”
Meanwhile, Verstappen delivered a farewell message to Perez, describing him as honest and straightforward.
“He’s been a great teammate to me. As you can see of course in this picture, without his help in that race that wouldn’t have happened. I will always be thankful to him for that, he said.
“I think what is the really most important thing, it’s always been enjoyable, straightforward, honest.
“There’s not many times you will have a teammate you can say all these things about.
“I am very thankful to Checo as a person, not as a teammate. It’s been really nice to work with.”
Lawson will become Verstappen’s fifth Red Bull teammate, following Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Perez.
