Liam Lawson news LIVE: Red Bull latest as Kiwi replaces Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate
RB’s Liam Lawson has taken Sergio Perez’s spot alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing next season
RB’s Liam Lawson has been promoted to Red Bull and will replace the axed Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2025 F1 season.
Red Bull called time on their four-year relationship with Perez yesterday after a difficult season in which the Mexican struggled to keep pace not only with world title-winning teammate Verstappen but also rivals from McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari, finishing eighth in the drivers’ standings. It also meant Red Bull finished third in the constructors’ championship and ceded their crown to McLaren.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Red Bull,” Perez said. “We broke records and reached remarkable milestones.”
While Perez’s future is now in doubt, with no seat currently available on the grid next season, New Zealander Lawson has been rewarded after impressing for sister team RB this year.
Follow all the latest reaction and F1 developments in the live blog below.
Sergio Perez exit was inevitable
For Sergio Perez it was only a matter of when rather than if Red Bull would let him go. The axe fell on Wednesday and today his replacement has been confirmed in the shape of Liam Lawson.
Perez joined the team in 2021, but this season came under increasing pressure as the Formula One campaign wore on – finishing a whopping 285 points behind his team-mate Max Verstappen as Red Bull surrendered their constructors’ championship title to McLaren.
Verstappen clinched his fourth consecutive drivers’ world title while Perez, 34, finished eighth in the standings, failing to finish in the top five in his final 18 races for the team.
‘Checo has been a fantastic member of this team'
Horner spoke to Sky Sports regarding Sergio Perez’s future, saying: “Checo has been a fantastic member of this team, it’s been a tough year for him, but he’s a great person and played a key role in 2021 drivers’ championship.
“We sat down and discussed it last week. He’s decided to take a bit of time out, take a sabbatical from Formula 1 essentially. He’ll still be involved with the brand and the team. But he’s stepping back from driving duties moving forward.
“We’re sad to see him leave the team. It’s time for him to spend time with his family and reflect on what he wants to do for the future.”
Horner on Lawson appointment
Christian Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, stated on Wednesday that Sergio Perez would be taking a sabbatical in 2025 after four years with the team. As part of this morning’s announcement he labelled Liam Lawson as a “real racer.”
“I’m delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the Team in 2025,” Horner said.
“Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with 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 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, 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.”
Lawson reacts to earning Red Bull seat
“To be announced as a 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,” Liam Lawson said after the announcement that he will be partnering Max Verstappen in 2025.
“It’s been an incredible journey so far. I want to say a massive thank you to the whole team at RB 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 [Horner], Helmut [Marko] and the whole Red Bull family for believing in me and giving me this opportunity.
“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!”
Liam Lawson announced as Sergio Perez replacement
Red Bull Racing have confirmed that Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez for the 2025 season and partner Max Verstappen. The released a statement which reads:
“Oracle Red Bull Racing is pleased to announce that Liam Lawson will complete the Tema’s driver line-up for the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship, moving across from Visa Cash App Racing Bulls to partner four-time World Champion Max Verstappen.
“New Zealand native Liam joined the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2019 and after multiple junior formula successes made his Formula One debut with Scuderia AlphaTauri at the 2023 Italian 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 in all 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. Now, after completing the season with VCARB the 22-year-old takes the next step in his career with a seat a Oracle Red Bull Racing.”
Sergio Perez leaves Red Bull
Perez did not finish on the podium after he was third in China in April, while his last race win came in April last year.
He won twice in the 2023 season, while 27-year-old Verstappen triumphed a record 19 times.
Perez had been adamant all season that he would remain at Red Bull next year, despite a woeful run of results that ultimately cost the team their constructors’ title, which was won by McLaren.
Red Bull said further announcements regarding their driver line-up for next year would be made in due course – that annoucement could come today.
Sergio Perez leaves Red Bull
“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team,” Perez said in a statement.
“Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way...
“It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success. We’ll meet again soon. And remember... Never give up.”
Sergio Perez leaves Red Bull
A reminder of the news yesterday that Mexican driver Sergio Perez has left Red Bull after reaching an agreement with the Formula One team to part ways with immediate effect, both announced on Wednesday.
Perez, who has won six Grands Prix across 14 seasons, joined the Milton Keynes outfit in 2021. He helped them claim the Constructors’ Championship title in 2022 and 2023 and was the runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship last year.
The 34-year-old signed a new deal with Red Bull until 2026 earlier this year, but his place as Max Verstappen’s teammate came under intense scrutiny.
He finished eighth in the Drivers’ Championship this season, 285 points behind Verstappen, who secured his fourth successive drivers’ title and won nine races, while Perez was the only driver from the top four teams without a win this year.
Sergio Perez’s dreadful form cost Red Bull 2024 F1 title – he had to go
By F1 correspondent Kieran Jackson:
The beginning of the end for Sergio Perez at Red Bull was further back than you think, after the Mexican finally confirmed a predictable outcome on Wednesday following a disastrous season. For it was not the embarrassing Q1 exit in Hungary in July, after a crash in practice the day before. Nor was it the expensive first-lap crash on the streets of Monaco in the spring. Instead, it was May 2023, and a time when events were altogether rosier for the now dispirited Mexican.
Heading into last year’s Miami Grand Prix, Perez was being tilted as a genuine title contender. Or rather, given Red Bull’s car dominance, Max Verstappen’s only title contender. Both drivers had split wins in the first four races and on his favoured street track configuration, Perez took pole in Florida. Verstappen started in ninth.
Yet since the irrepressible Dutchman stormed through the field that day to claim what would be his third of 19 victories in 2023, the contrast in fortunes between the two Red Bull drivers has been colossal.
Since that day, Verstappen has won 25 grands prix. Perez has won zero.
Read more:
Perez’s dreadful form cost Red Bull 2024 F1 title – he had to go
Perez has lost his Red Bull seat next year after a season to forget as Max Verstappen’s teammate
Christian Horner coy on Red Bull line-up
When asked about the potential replacements for Perez, Horner had this to say: “Now, we have all of the information we need, it’ll be a choice between Yuki [Tsunoda] and Liam [Lawson] and both have got strong credentials.
“We tested Yuki recently in Abu Dhabi, had a chance to work with the engineer team, while Liam has tested a lot with us and driven well. [We’re\ considering all of that. We’ll conclude in the coming days.
“The most important thing for us, to make sure we have two drivers performing as closely as possible.
“We’ll have a Hamilton and Leclerc line-up [at Ferrari], Norris and Piastri [at McLaren], we’ve seen what that’s capable of, George Russell with another newcomer in Kimi Antonelli [at Mercedes] – it’ll be very tight next year. What is the best line-up we can field?”
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