Liam Lawson will start the 2025 Formula 1 race season as a full-time Red Bull driver!
The 22-year-old New Zealand F1 driver worked his way up the ranks through competitive racing, competing in karting, Formula 3 and Formula 2, before joining the Red Bull Junior Team and then becoming a reserve driver for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri/RB.
It was officially announced on Thursday (December 19) that he will join Oracle Red Bull Racing in the second seat alongside four-time drivers champion Max Verstappen.
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“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,” Liam shared in a statement. “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 [Horner], 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!”
Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner also shared his excitement for Liam to move up to the top team.
“I’m delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the Team in 2025. 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,” he said.
“His arrival continues the Team’s long history of promoting from within the Red Bull Junior Programme and he follows in the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and of course, Max Verstappen,” Christian continued. “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.”
Liam‘s appointment comes a day after it was officially announced Sergio Perez would vacate his seat at Red Bull after a rough year with the team.
Liam made his F1 debut in 2023 at the Dutch Grand Prix, filling in for Daniel Ricciardo, who suffered a hand injury, and he competed in several races that year.
In 2024, he then replaced Daniel in the VCARB seat for the remainder of the season, starting with the United States Grand Prix in October 2024.
With Liam moving up to Red Bull, there is now an open seat at VCARB, with F2 runner up Isack Hadjar rumored to being promoted to F1 in that seat.
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