Max Verstappen‘s got a new teammate lined up at Red Bull, and it’s not who you might expect. Liam Lawson, the young driver from New Zealand, is set to take Sergio Perez‘s seat in 2025.
It’s a pretty big deal for the 22-year-old, who’s been part of Red Bull’s racing family since 2019.
Last Wednesday, Lawson walked into Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes with a whole different vibe. This time, he wasn’t just another reserve driver – he was there as the next big thing in Formula One.
The decision came after Red Bull and Perez agreed to part ways early, opening up that coveted spot next to three-time world champion Verstappen. It was basically down to two choices: Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda from their sister team.
Lawson won out, while Tsunoda will stick with the newly renamed Racing Bulls (previously AlphaTauri) for 2025.
But here’s the interesting part – Red Bull’s advisor Helmut Marko had some pretty blunt advice for the newcomer. He told Lawson not to try beating Verstappen, but to accept being his teammate instead.
That’s quite a thing to tell your new driver, isn’t it?
Still, Red Bull’s got high hopes for Lawson. He’s already proven himself as a reserve driver for both Red Bull and their sister team between 2022 and 2024.
The real question now is how he’ll handle the pressure of racing alongside one of F1’s most dominant drivers in recent history.
