Pink Bull have confirmed Liam Lawson as Max Verstappen’s team-mate for the 2025 Formulation 1 season.
The 22-year-old New Zealander was chosen over his 2024 team-mate Yuki Tsunoda to be promoted from Pink Bull’s junior workforce RB to exchange Sergio Perez.
Pink Bull introduced Lawson’s signing on Thursday, lower than 24 hours after Perez’s exit had been confirmed.
“To be introduced as an Oracle Pink Bull Racing Driver is a lifelong dream for me, that is one thing I’ve wished and labored in the direction of since I used to be eight years previous,” Lawson mentioned.
“It has been an unimaginable journey thus far. I wish to say an enormous thanks to the entire workforce at VCARB for his or her help, the final six races have performed an enormous half in my preparation for this subsequent step.
“I additionally wish to thank, Christian [Horner], Helmut [Marko] and the entire Pink Bull household for believing in me and giving me this chance.
“I’m tremendous excited to work alongside Max and study from a World Champion, I’ve little question I’ll study from his experience. I am unable to wait to get going!”
Lawson is about to contest his first full F1 season having beforehand pushed in a complete of 11 Grands Prix, following cameos in every of the final two years.
He stepped in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo for 5 races in 2023, after which drove for the ultimate six rounds of 2024 after the Australian was dropped.
Sergio Perez clashed with Visa Money App RB’s Liam Lawson within the Mexico Metropolis GP
Lawson has completed within the factors 3 times, taking ninth place on every event. His greatest qualifying efficiency got here as he took fifth within the moist at this 12 months’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
He was outscored by Tsunoda throughout their time as team-mates, however confirmed sufficient to persuade Pink Bull boss Christian Horner that he possesses higher potential.
Lawson turns into Verstappen’s fifth team-mate for the reason that Dutchman joined Pink Bull in 2016, and faces what many take into account to be the hardest gig in F1 by going instantly up in opposition to the motive force that has received every of the final 4 world championships.
‘Liam can rise to the problem’
Pink Bull workforce principal Horner mentioned: “Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with Visa Money App Racing Bulls have demonstrated that he is not solely able to delivering robust outcomes however that he is additionally an actual racer, not afraid to combine it with the perfect and are available out on high.
“His arrival continues the workforce’s lengthy historical past of selling from inside the Pink Bull Junior Programme and he follows within the footsteps of championship and race-winning drivers equivalent to Sebastian Vettel and naturally, Max Verstappen.
Relive a number of the greatest races this 12 months in Formulation 1, together with the Australian, British and Sao Paulo Grand Prix
“There is no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of many best drivers ever seen in F1, is a frightening process, however I am positive Liam can rise to that problem and ship some excellent outcomes for us subsequent 12 months.”
Pink Bull have been dominant winners of the Constructors’ Championship in 2022 and 2023 however completed behind Ferrari and champions McLaren in 2024, as a drop off in efficiency noticed them declare simply two wins within the last 14 Grands Prix of the season.
Lawson’s Pink Bull race debut will come as near dwelling as is feasible on the present F1 calendar, on the 2025 season-opening Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
Pink Bull have but to announce who will fill Lawson’s RB seat, however 20-year-old French driver Isack Hadjar, who can also be a product of the workforce’s junior programme, is taken into account the recent favorite.
Extra to observe…
Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formulation 1 season stay on Sky Sports activities F1, beginning with the Australian GP on March 14-16. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
