Verstappen’s Teammate Role ‘Toughest in F1,’ Horner Tells Lawson

Max Verstappen‘s new teammate at Red Bull has just landed what his boss calls “the hardest job in Formula 1.”

Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old from New Zealand, is stepping up to partner with the three-time world champion for the 2024 season. He’s replacing Sergio Perez after showing some serious potential in his brief F1 career.

“It’s great to have Liam with us this year,” Red Bull boss Christian Horner said at a recent Ford event. He couldn’t help but crack a joke about his new driver’s youthful looks: “I mean, it looks like he should be in a boy band…”

But Horner’s not just impressed by Lawson’s appearance. He’s convinced the young Kiwi has what it takes to handle the pressure of racing alongside Verstappen.

Lawson has only 11 Grand Prix races under his belt with Racing Bulls (formerly AlphaTauri). That’s not much experience, but it was enough to convince Red Bull to choose him over Yuki Tsunoda, who’ll stay with the sister team.

“He’s incredibly talented,” Horner said. “I think we have got a driver who has the skill, the determination and the mentality to cope with it.”

The young driver knows he’s facing a massive challenge.

“It’s very exciting, but obviously, a big role,” Lawson said. “I’m not super experienced in Formula 1, but I have been involved in the sport for a few years as a reserve driver in the background, so I do feel ready and excited.”

With the season approaching fast, Lawson’s already deep into preparations for what could be the biggest test of his racing career – sharing a garage with one of F1’s most dominant drivers ever.