Liam Lawson fulfils ‘lifelong dream’ by replacing Sergio Pérez at Red Bull | Formula One

The New Zealander Liam Lawson has been confirmed as Sergio Pérez’s replacement at Red Bull for next season. It was announced on Wednesday that the Mexican driver had lost his seat after four years as Max Verstappen’s teammate after a disappointing year.

Lawson, who joined the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2019, steps in after 11 races for the RB team. The 22-year-old 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 (RB) for their support, the last six races have played a huge part in my preparation for this next step. 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.”

Lawson made his debut in F1 at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix in place of the injured Daniel Ricciardo and went on to compete in five races, scoring his first points in Texas. Lawson then replaced Ricciardo on a permanent basis for the final six races of the 2024 season and impressed sufficiently to make the jump to Red Bull.

Red Bull’s team principal, Christian Horner, backed Lawson to shine, saying: “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.”

Valtteri Bottas is rejoining Mercedes as a reserve driver in the 2025 season. Bottas won 10 races with Mercedes as a teammate of Lewis Hamilton from 2017-21. In 2022 he joined Alfa Romeo, which became the Sauber team, when Mercedes passed him over in favour of George Russell.

The 35-year-old Bottas finished 22nd in the driver standings in 2024, failing to score a point. Bottas, from Finland, parted ways with the Sauber team earlier this month following the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

He joins Russell and the 18-year-old newcomer Kimi Antonelli on the 2025 team with hopes of a full-time driver spot with a team in 2026. Antonelli takes over for Hamilton, who departed for Ferrari. Hamilton and Bottas together won five constructors’ championships for Mercedes.

“Returning home to the Mercedes family as third driver for 2025 is what’s next and I couldn’t be more pleased,” Bottas said. “Despite the challenges of the past few years, I know that I’ve still got so much more to contribute to F1,” he added.

“Since I was a five-year-old kid growing up in Nastola, Finland, my focus has been on achieving success in the top tier of motorsport. I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships.”