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LAWSON LOCKS IN F1’S TOP DRIVE

After a tension-filled six-race audition, New Zealand’s Liam Lawson has been selected to drive for Red Bull Racing alongside four-time World Champion Max Verstappen in 2025.

Red Bull Racing confirmed the 2025 line-up overnight, ending months of intrigue surrounding the sought-after seat. Lawson described the news as the best Christmas present he has ever received: “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 Giltrap Group-backed driver is the final piece in a complex puzzle at the six-time title-winning outfit. Earlier this week, team bosses confirmed that Sergio Prez had been released for 2025, opening the door for either Lawson or his Racing Bulls teammate, Yuki Tsunoda. With the writing on the wall for the underperforming Mexican driver, both RB drivers became the most scrutinised drivers in the F1 paddock. Conjecture swirled over who…if anyone…would partner Verstappen.

With just six races to show what he was capable of, the Pukekohe 22-year-old was fearless, dicing with the likes of Sir Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and famously, the driver he replaced: Perez. Lawson's take-no-prisoners style impressed Christian Horner, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal and CEO. “Liam’s performances throughout 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.”

Lawson Joined the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2019 after stealing the show in the Toyota Racing Series and capturing the attention of Red Bull Advisor Helmut Marko. Multiple junior formula successes followed before he made his Formula One debut with Scuderia AlphaTauri at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix in place of the injured Daniel Ricciardo. He scored his first championship points in just his second outing at the Singapore GP and completed five races for the team. After taking up his Reserve Driver role with both teams at the start of 2024, Liam returned to Grand Prix racing with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls with a points-scoring finish at this year’s United States Grand Prix.

Lawson says, “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. 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 and the whole Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.

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, Verstappen.

Horner is confident that the Kiwi has the talent to partner 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 is returning to New Zealand for Christmas before beginning preparations for his Red Bull debut in the Australian Grand Prix in March.