Liam Lawson: Red Bull Racing driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season
Lawson set to step into F1 spotlight as Red Bull Racing prepares for bold 2025 season
In a surprising yet calculated move, Red Bull Racing has announced Liam Lawson as their driver for the 2025 Formula 1 season, replacing Sergio Perez. The 22-year-old New Zealander will line up alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen, completing a pair that promises to captivate fans and commentators alike.
Lawson, who has only 11 Grand Prix starts to his name, made his debut in 2023 when he filled in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo at the Dutch Grand Prix. He ultimately secured his spot on the grid permanently at the U.S. Grand Prix. Known for his aggressive racing style, he has already engaged in memorable showdowns with veterans like Fernando Alonso, who once accused him of lacking respect, and Sergio Perez, against whom he battled fiercely towards the season's end. But Lawson remains unapologetic about his approach: "I will always try and make it as tough as possible," he shared with ESPN. "That's how I've always raced, and it's never personal against any driver."
Red Bull’s choice between Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda was a closely contested decision. Team principal Christian Horner emphasized Lawson's versatility and his gritty racer mentality. "You put him into a situation, he gets on with it," Horner said, recalling Lawson's impressive debut performance. "His racecraft has been really one of his key strengths."
Lawson's path to F1 is a testament to perseverance. Coming from humble beginnings in New Zealand, he has defied the odds associated with a sport often perceived as accessible only to those with affluent backgrounds. "My parents sold their house so that I could keep racing," Lawson candidly shared on the Red Bull podcast Talking Bull.
Read next ❯ Ferrari to reveal Hamilton's debut F1 car on February 19 at MaranelloAs anticipation builds for the 2025 season, with its curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix on March 16, fans can expect to see Lawson bring his relentless drive to Red Bull's front-running machinery. His determined racing spirit, captured humorously in a viral song featuring the lyric "I'm Liam Lawson, get out of my way!", signals that he’s ready to make any competitor think twice before attempting to overtake.
With February's preseason test in Bahrain on the horizon, Lawson may soon have the chance to showcase his talents further in one of the sport's most coveted cars, setting the stage for a thrilling new chapter in Formula 1.
