Liam Lawson has been confirmed as Sergio Perez’s replacement at Red Bull Racing for the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Perez’s departure from the team was announced on Wednesday following negotiations relating to the termination of his contract, with an agreement reached for him to leave the team with immediate effect. In his place, Red Bull have opted for Lawson over Yuki Tsunoda, with the New Zealander having started just 11 grands prix across the past two seasons.
“I’m delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the team in 2025,” team principal Christian Horner said. “Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls 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 Program and he follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course, Max Verstappen.
“There’s no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I’m sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year.”
Lawson says his second stint at RB — where he replaced Daniel Ricciardo after the Singapore Grand Prix for the rest of this season — was central to him proving he is ready for the opportunity.
“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 said. “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 [Marko] 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!”
The decision is set to pave the way for Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar to replace Lawson at RB alongside Yuki Tsunoda, with the Japanese driver being overlooked for the top team despite starting 87 grands prix across the past four seasons.
