Liam Lawson: Crimson Bull verify New Zealander as Max Verstappen’s team-mate for 2025 F1 season

Crimson Bull have confirmed Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s team-mate for the 2025 Formulation 1 season.

The 22-year-old New Zealander was chosen over his 2024 team-mate Yuki Tsunoda to be promoted from Crimson Bull’s junior crew RB to interchange Sergio Perez.

Crimson Bull introduced Lawson’s signing on Thursday, lower than 24 hours after Perez’s exit had been confirmed.

“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,” Lawson stated.

“It has been an unbelievable journey thus far. I need to say an enormous thanks to the entire crew at VCARB for his or her help, the final six races have performed an enormous half in my preparation for this subsequent step.

“I additionally need to thank, Christian [Horner], Helmut [Marko] and the entire Crimson Bull household for believing in me and giving me this chance.

“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!”

Lawson is about to contest his first full F1 season having beforehand pushed in a complete of 11 Grands Prix, following cameos in every of the final two years.

He stepped in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo for 5 races in 2023, after which drove for the ultimate six rounds of 2024 after the Australian was dropped.

Lawson has completed within the factors thrice, taking ninth place on every event. His greatest qualifying efficiency got here as he took fifth within the moist at this yr’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

He was outscored by Tsunoda throughout their time as team-mates, however confirmed sufficient to persuade Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner that he possesses better potential.

Lawson turns into Verstappen’s fifth team-mate for the reason that Dutchman joined Crimson Bull in 2016, and faces what many take into account to be the hardest gig in F1 by going immediately up in opposition to the motive force that has received every of the final 4 world championships.

‘Liam can rise to the problem’

Crimson Bull crew principal Horner stated: “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.

“His arrival continues the crew’s lengthy historical past of selling from inside the Crimson Bull Junior Programme and he follows within the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers comparable to Sebastian Vettel and naturally, Max 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.”

Crimson Bull have been dominant winners of the Constructors’ Championship in 2022 and 2023 however completed behind Ferrari and champions McLaren in 2024, as a drop off in efficiency noticed them declare simply two wins within the last 14 Grands Prix of the season.

Lawson’s Crimson Bull race debut will come as near dwelling as is feasible on the present F1 calendar, on the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

Crimson Bull have but to announce who will fill Lawson’s RB seat, however 20-year-old French driver Isack Hadjar, who can be a product of the crew’s junior programme, is taken into account the recent favorite.

Extra to observe…

Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formulation 1 season stay on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime