The Red Bull Racing shake-up continues as Liam Lawson gears up for his full-time F1 debut in 2025, stepping into Sergio Perez’s vacated seat alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen. However, the Kiwi will not inherit Perez’s long-time race engineer, Hugh Bird. Instead, Red Bull has assigned Richard Wood, Perez’s former performance engineer, to take on the crucial role.
This move comes amid major personnel shifts at Red Bull, following the high-profile departures of Adrian Newey (to Aston Martin) and Jonathan Wheatley (to Audi’s Sauber project). As the six-time Constructors’ Champions reorganize their technical team, Lawson’s engineering setup will be a key factor in how he fares against the fastest driver on the grid.
Liam Lawson’s Battle Against the Red Bull No. 2 Curse
Lawson enters Red Bull with a cautionary tale in front of him. He has watched as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez all struggled in the seat next to Verstappen, each ultimately forced out of the team.
“I don’t know what they [Gasly and Albon] felt when they were there,” Lawson admitted. “You can always look at it as an outsider and think: ‘This is what it looks like they felt.’ But I don’t know what it was like for them.”
While Verstappen has thrived in the Red Bull machine, his teammates have often found it unforgiving, battling instability, a car seemingly tailored to Max’s aggressive driving style, and team dynamics that favor the reigning champion.
“I believe, for anybody to go up against Max, you have to be realistic and know that he’s the fastest guy on the grid right now. You’re not going to be outqualifying the guy by half a second. It’s not going to be something that’s really going to be happening.”
For Liam Lawson, the challenge is not just to survive—but to prove he belongs.
What Richard Wood Brings to the Table
Red Bull’s decision to appoint Richard Wood as Lawson’s race engineer is significant. Wood has already stepped into the role before, having replaced Bird for one race at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix when Bird was on paternity leave.
With continuity a priority, this move suggests Red Bull sees Wood as a stabilizing force for Lawson, helping him acclimate to the high-pressure environment while ensuring he gets the most out of the RB21.
Lawson’s Mindset: Learning from the Best, Not Beating the Best (Yet)
Rather than setting unrealistic expectations, Lawson is embracing the learning curve that comes with being Verstappen’s teammate.
“For me, it’s more the opportunity that’s there to learn from the best,” he said.
“For me as a driver, to be able to go in against the guy who’s won four world championships and is well seasoned… He’s been in that car for a long time. That car is almost… not developed around him, but he’s been a massive part of developing that car and understands it very well.”
Can Lawson Break the No. 2 Curse?
The Red Bull second seat has become a revolving door in recent years. But Lawson’s patient, methodical approach could help him navigate the pressures that Gasly and Albon struggled with.
He knows the RB21 will be a car designed with Verstappen in mind, and instead of trying to outpace Max immediately, he’s focusing on absorbing as much data and experience as possible.
His first goal? Consistency. If he can deliver strong performances, avoid major mistakes, and close the gap to Verstappen, Red Bull might finally have a long-term solution for its No. 2 driver conundrum.
🚀 Will Lawson succeed where others have failed, or is he just the next victim of the Red Bull second seat curse?