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.
F1 2024 final standings as McLaren beat Ferrari to constructors title
Lando Norris secured a dominant victory at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win McLaren their first constructors’ championship since 1998.
The 25-year-old’s fourth win of the season meant McLaren held off the charge of Ferrari as team-mate Oscar Piastri finished only 10th after an eventful race for the Australian at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Ferrari pair Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc were second and third to push McLaren all the way but Norris’ win was enough to secure the title.
F1 2024 final standings as McLaren beat Ferrari to constructors title
McLaren have claimed their first constructors’ title since 1998
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?”
More from Horner
On the decision to extend Perez’s contract over the summer, Horner said: “At the time he’d had four podiums in five races, it was a logical extension to remove speculation, of which there was already too much around the team,” explained the team principal.
“Every contract has performance clauses and criteria, it didn’t make any difference to this decision for Sergio to step away and take a sabbatical.”
On the constructor’s championship, he added: “In hindsight, McLaren did a great job. But at the end of the day, we won more races, we had more poles, we won four sprint races, more than any other team, and we won the drivers’ championship with two races to go.
“Unfortunately we had a 280-point deficit between our drivers, of course that became quite expensive in terms of the constructors’ championship.”
Horner: “Checo has been a fantastic member of this team"
Horner spoke to Sky Sports regarding 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.”
Sergio Perez’s next move after Red Bull exit revealed by Christian Horner
Christian Horner has revealed what Sergio Perez’s next move will be after Red Bull confirmed his exit following a disastrous 2024 F1 season.
The Mexican endured a torrid run of results this year as he finished eighth in the drivers’ standings – a mammoth 285 points behind teammate and champion Max Verstappen.
The 34-year-old’s sub-par performances ultimately cost Red Bull the constructors’ title as McLaren pipped Ferrari to the crown in the final race of the season, thanks to Lando Norris’s win in Abu Dhabi.
And Red Bull boss Horner has now explained what Perez will do ahead of the 2025 campaign, with no other seat lined up.
Sergio Perez’s next move after Red Bull exit revealed by Christian Horner
Perez has been axed by Red Bull after a torrid season in which he finished 285 points behind teammate Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez’s dreadful form cost Red Bull 2024 F1 title – the Mexican had to go
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 Monacoin 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.
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
More from Horner
"While Checo will not race for the team next season, he will always be an extremely popular team member and a treasured part of our history.
“Thank you, Checo,” added Horner at the end of his statement.
Horner: Perez “a treasured part of our history"
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner also gave a statement, in which he thanked Perez and praised his contribution over the years.
“I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons," Horner said.
“From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary team player, helping us to two constructors' titles and to our first 1-2 finish in the drivers' championship,” he added.
Perez: “We’ll meet again soon"
In the final part of his statement, Perez gave "a special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day.
“We'll meet again soon. And remember... never give up!"
Perez’s future in F1 remains in doubt, with no seat currently available on the grid next season.
More from Perez
"A big thank you to every person in the team from management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes. I wish you all the best for the future.
He also extended a thank you to teammate Max Verstappen, adding: “It's also been an honour to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success.”
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