Red Bull Racing is gearing up for a significant shift in its driver lineup, and the spotlight is firmly on Liam Lawson, the 22-year-old rookie promoted to partner Max Verstappen for the 2025 Formula 1 season. Team Principal Christian Horner believes Lawson’s driving style and resilience could finally close the performance gap between Red Bull’s two drivers—a challenge the team has grappled with since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018.
The Verstappen Effect: A Tough Act to Follow
Since Verstappen established himself as Red Bull’s dominant force, his teammates—including Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and most recently Sergio Perez—have struggled to match his pace. Verstappen’s driving style, which heavily favors a “pointy” front end, allows him to extract maximum performance from the car, even at the expense of rear stability. While this approach has propelled him to four F1 championships, it has also exposed the limitations of his teammates, who often find themselves unable to adapt to the car’s setup.
Horner highlighted Lawson’s ability to handle a car with a sharp front-end setup, akin to Verstappen’s preference:
“He drives the car in a similar fashion to Max. He doesn’t shy away from having a very positive front end. In terms of driving characteristics, it will be easier for the cars to run more closely together in setup.”
A Broader Operating Window for 2025
Red Bull is working to ensure its RB21 car is more adaptable than its predecessor, the RB20, which featured a “narrow and peaky performance window.” This change could benefit Lawson as he steps into one of the most demanding seats in motorsport.
“Creating a broader window will hopefully help Liam find a more forgiving car than RB20 could be on occasion,” Horner explained.
Lawson’s Mental Toughness and Resilience
Lawson’s brief but impressive F1 stint has already showcased his resilience under pressure. His standout performance at the weather-affected Brazilian Grand Prix—where he held off experienced drivers like Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton—cemented his reputation as a composed and adaptable racer.
“Brazil was an interesting one where all the rookies looked a little bit like rookies this year. Liam didn’t drop the car or make any mistakes. He looked like a seasoned campaigner,” said Horner.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Horner acknowledged the risk of Lawson facing a similar fate to Gasly and Albon, who struggled under the weight of comparisons to Verstappen. However, he emphasized the team’s commitment to managing expectations:
“One of the things we’ll be looking to protect Liam from is expectation. His goal is to get as close as possible to Max so we don’t have a 285-point deficit between the cars.”
The Next Chapter for Red Bull
Lawson enters 2025 as Verstappen’s fifth teammate since 2018, and his promotion signals Red Bull’s confidence in his potential to grow alongside the reigning champion. With the team focused on refining its car and fostering Lawson’s development, the Kiwi driver has a unique opportunity to carve his path in Formula 1. Whether Lawson can rise to the challenge and push Verstappen remains to be seen, but his arrival marks a new era for Red Bull Racing—one filled with both promise and high stakes.
