• Liam Lawson will take over Sergio Perez's seat at Red Bull Racing in 2025
  • Lawson will drive alongside Max Verstappen, who will be chasing his fifth world title
  • Lawson's former seat at RB has yet to be filled

New Zealander Liam Lawson was confirmed on Thursday by Red Bull Racing as its pick for teammate to star driver Max Verstappen in the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship.

The confirmation came a day after Sergio Perez, who has driven for Red Bull since 2021, was dropped from the squad following a string of poor performances over the past two seasons. Perez finished 2024 in eighth place in the Drivers' Championship, and his lack of pace also resulted in Red Bull finishing only third in the Constructors' Championship, behind McLaren and Ferrari.

Lawson has been part of Red Bull's driver development program since 2019 and served as a reserve driver since 2022. He made his F1 debut in 2023 when he filled in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo for five races at AlphaTauri, the Red Bull feeder team rebranded as RB in 2024. Lawson managed to pick up his first points in just his second race.

It wasn't enough for him to secure a full-time seat in 2024, though Lawson was eventually given Ricciardo's seat at RB after the Australian was dropped mid-season. Once again, Lawson managed to score points despite entering only a handful of races.

Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson -- Photo via Getty Images and Red Bull

“Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with [RB] 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,” Christian Horner, Red Bull's team principal, said in a statement.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Red Bull may no longer be the fastest team. Their pace has already declined since mid-season, and they will also lose star aerodynamicist Adrian Newey to Aston Martin. Additionally, Lewis Hamilton driving for Ferrari next year could prove to be a game-changer.

Red Bull hasn't mentioned the length of its contract with Lawson. Verstappen, who will be chasing his fifth world title in 2025, has a contract that lasts through the end of 2028.

With Lawson now at Red Bull, a seat has opened up at his former RB team. The team's other seat is filled by Yuki Tsunoda, who has been with the squad since 2021.

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