Sergio Perez Out and Liam Lawson In With Red Bull for the 2025 Season

This week Red Bull F1 Team announced the conclusion of an era with Sergio Perez as their number 2 driver. Perez has been with the Red Bull side from 2021 to the end of the F1 season this year. However, after diminishing performance in 2024 which cost Red Bull the constructors champion Perez met his imminent fate. However, identifying his replacement was no straight forward feat. Red Bull is known for investing in their young talent and with a satellite team (RB) on the grid many pointed to Daniel Ricciardo or Yuki Tsunoda to take the seat when Perez was to exit. However, inconsistency in performance on the track plagued Ricciardo which eventually cost him his seat.

Liam Lawson Gets Red Bull Seat Over Tsunoda

Despite a very short stent in the car for 2024, former reserve driver and now Red Bull driver Liam Lawson wowed the Milton Keynes leadership with his race craft and situational decision making that ultimately allows him to vault ahead of Yuki Tsunoda on numerous occasions despite Yuki having more experience in Formula 1. Despite finishing behind Tsunoda in the drivers championship Red Bull have sent a clear message that Lawson is the best man for the job with their announcement today.

Lawson said, “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. 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!”

Red Bull Team Principal and CEO Christian Horner Offered His Comments on the Decision

Horner said, “I’m delighted to announce that Liam Lawson will join the Team in 2025. 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 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.”

Despite not finishing atop the constructors championship in 2024 Red Bull dominated the field early in the season which allowed Max Verstappen to create a large enough lead to hold on to the drivers championship despite no longer having the fastest car on grid. Now for the first time Liam Lawson will receive the opportunity he has been waiting for for years. With Lawson’s promotion Red Bull look to rebuild around their traditional mantra of investing in young talent that has been invested in their organization.

Sergio Perez Says Farwell

Sergio Perez had the following word regarding his departure. “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. 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.

A big thank you to every person in the Team from the 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. It has also been an honor to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success. 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.”