Liam Lawson returned to the sport to replace Daniel Ricciardo at Racing Bulls and has impressed ever since. In the 22-year-old’s six-race cameo, he scored four points and has kept the pace nearly equal to his more experienced teammate Yuki Tsunoda.
The speculation around the second Red Bull seat is that Sergio Perez will be dropped. If the Mexican does leave the team, it would be a shoot-out between both Racing Bull drivers. Liam Lawson is keen for promotion to the senior team to learn off the four-time world champion Max Verstappen and ultimately beat the Dutchman.
Is Liam Lawson the favourite for the second Red Bull seat?
If Sergio Perez loses his seat for next season, Liam Lawson is considered to be the front-runner to take the spot. Lawson’s more experienced Yuki Tsunoda is looking less likely to get the promotion due to Honda leaving the Red Bull team after 2025.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has been full of praise for the young Kiwi. He said: “Liam, in challenging circumstances, has done a very good job. If you analyse what he’s done in the time that he’s had and the race pace that he’s had. I think he’s done a good job.”
⚠️ | Liam Lawson is reportedly set to be announced as Sergio Pérez’ replacement for 2025.
This is what the Red Bull structure would look like in 2025:
Red Bull: Max Verstappen & Liam Lawson.
VCARB: Yuki Tsunoda & Isack Hadjar.
Sergio Pérez: Red Bull ambassador.#F1… pic.twitter.com/1p3AwQixRi
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) December 7, 2024
Lawson has largely kept pace with Tsunoda despite competing in fewer races. This will have impressed the Red Bull management. It is believed they think Lawson has a higher ceiling. It would be a risk considering Lawson has only raced eleven times in F1 but the potential is unquestionable.
Liam Lawson hopes to learn a lot from Max Verstappen
The fact Lawson only has eleven grand prix under his belt could be a worry for Red Bull. The man from New Zealand could wilt under pressure as Alex Albon and Pierre Gasly have before him. However, Lawson believes this would be a great opportunity to learn from a four-time world champion.
Speaking to PlanetF1, he said: “For me, it’s more the opportunity that’s there to learn from the best. In terms of how to drive it, it’s all right there on paper. When you see all the data that he brings in, for me as a driver to be alongside that, to be able to learn from him and have all that access. I think that’s what’s exciting for me about the opportunity. If that opportunity was to come in the future.”
To beat Verstappen in a car which is largely developed for him, a teammate must adapt their driving style. However, as Red Bull caters their car to Verstappen, they aim to push Max to more championship glory. The teammate is a wingman role to win the race if Verstappen can’t.
