Liam Lawson, initially recruited by VCARB to demonstrate his Formula 1 prowess, soon found himself on a trajectory towards a golden opportunity at Red Bull, particularly as Sergio Perez’s performance took a concerning downturn. Lawson’s path to Red Bull became even clearer as Perez’s struggles continued.
Perez, who joined Red Bull in 2021, had been instrumental in the team’s 2022 and 2023 Constructors’ Championship victories. His contributions significantly aided Max Verstappen in securing his first of four consecutive World Championship titles in 2021. However, Perez’s form saw a distinct decline in 2024, contributing to Red Bull’s fall from the Constructors’ pinnacle and ending in a third-place finish. This left McLaren and Ferrari to vie for the top spot, a battle ultimately won by McLaren.
As the 2024 season wrapped up, Perez parted ways with Red Bull and the team decided to promote Lawson, a Kiwi racer who had re-entered the F1 grid mid-season to step in for Daniel Ricciardo. Lawson was asked by the press, including PlanetF1.com, during the F1 75 season launch event in London when he realized a Red Bull F1 2025 seat could potentially be his, at the expense of Perez.
Lawson explained, “Whenever you’re driving in Formula 1, particularly for VCARB, the primary reason a junior or a younger driver is recruited is to assess their performance and see if they can prove themselves worthy of moving up to Red Bull.” He further stated that when he joined the team in Austin, he knew he was there for evaluation. He was aware that the end of a season is an optimal time to assess a new addition for the upcoming year.
Lawson clarified that his focus wasn’t specifically on securing a position at Red Bull or VCARB, but more on proving his worth to remain in Formula 1. Over time, the opportunity at Red Bull became more apparent. However, this opportunity hinged on Sergio’s performance, Lawson’s own performance, and the performance of others under consideration.
As Lawson gears up for the new challenge at Red Bull, he follows in the footsteps of Perez, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly, all of whom have confronted the daunting task of proving themselves at Verstappen. Lawson’s role, however, is defined as the number two driver, with his primary responsibility being to propel Red Bull back to the front of the pack.
Lawson stated, “The team’s goal is to win the Constructors’ and that’s the clear goal for this year.” He further noted that if the team is in a position to win the Constructors’, it would signify that he is fulfilling his role. Beyond team expectations, Lawson has personal goals in Formula 1, striving to make the car as fast as possible and adding his contributions to the team’s collective success.
