Oracle Red Bull Racing confirm Liam Lawson as Sergio Pérez replacement

After announcing the departure of Sergio Pérez, Oracle Red Bull Racing have announced New Zealand’s Liam Lawson, currently with the Austrian F1 outfit’s sister team, VCARB, will be replacing the outgoing Mexican from next season.

Lawson made his Formula One debut in 2023, replacing an injured Daniel Ricciardo at the Dutch Grand Prix, and went on to race five times for AlphaTauri that season. He returned to the grid towards the business end of the 2024 Formula One season, this time to replace the axed Ricciardo. He has served as a Reserve Driver for Red Bull since 2022.

Speaking about replacing Sergio Pérez at Red Bull Racing, Liam 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!“

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Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO, Red Bull Racing, added:

“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.“