Red Bull Racing has made waves in the Formula 1 community with significant changes to its driver lineup for the upcoming 2025 season. The team has confirmed the departure of Mexican driver Sergio 'Checo' Pérez, who has competed for the iconic outfit for the past four seasons, and the promotion of New Zealand's Liam Lawson as his replacement.
According to the announcement released by Red Bull Racing on Wednesday, Pérez's time at the team has come to an end. He played an important role during his tenure, securing multiple victories, numerous podium finishes, and contributing significantly to the team's success, which includes two Constructors' Championships. This fruitful partnership marked what many termed as the team's most successful era.
Pérez expressed his gratitude for the opportunities provided by Red Bull, stating, "Manejar para Red Bull ha sido una experiencia inolvidable y siempre atesoraré el éxito que logramos juntos" (Original quote: "Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I will always treasure the success we achieved together."). He went on to celebrate the amazing moments shared with the team and acknowledged the team's staff, engineers, and supporters, particularly thanking his Mexican fans for their unwavering support throughout his career.
"Un agradecimiento especial a todos los aficionados alrededor del mundo, especialmente a los fans mexicanos por todo su apoyo incondicional día a día. Nos veremos pronto. Y recuerden... Never give up!" he concluded, showcasing his optimism and connection to his fans.
Replacing Pérez, Lawson joins Red Bull Racing after proving himself with impressive performances at the junior level and making his Formula 1 debut with AlphaTauri during the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix. He quickly made his mark by earning points during his second race at the Singapore Grand Prix and later competed in several more races this past season.
Lawson expressed his excitement about this new opportunity, describing it as "un sueño de toda la vida" (Original quote: "a lifelong dream for me") and thanked the team, including Red Bull's prominent figures like Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, for their belief and support. "Estoy muy emocionado de trabajar junto a Max y aprender de un campeón del mundo" (Original quote: "I am very excited to work with Max and learn from a world champion"), Lawson added, demonstrating his eagerness and respect for his experienced teammate, Max Verstappen, who recently celebrated his fourth consecutive world title.
Christian Horner, Team Principal of Red Bull Racing, expressed his satisfaction with Lawson's promotion, noting the talent and character he has displayed during his junior career. "Su llegada continúa la larga historia del equipo de promoción dentro del Programa Junior de Red Bull" (Original quote: "His arrival continues the long history of the team promoting within the Red Bull Junior Program"), he remarked, emphasizing the successful lineage of drivers who have risen from the program to compete at the highest levels of the sport.
Horner believes Lawson has what it takes to rise to the challenges of competing alongside Verstappen, stating, "No hay duda de que competir junto a Max, cuatro veces campeón y, sin duda, uno de los mejores pilotos jamás vistos en la F1, es una tarea abrumadora" (Original quote: "There’s no doubt competing alongside Max, four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the best drivers ever seen in F1, is a monumental task"), reinforcing the high expectations set for the young driver.
The 2025 season will undoubtedly present both challenges and opportunities for Lawson as he transitions from reserve driver to full-time competitor at one of the most successful teams on the grid. With Pérez departing, fans are eager to see how this new chapter will play out and what it means for both the team's strategy and Lawson's career development.
Overall, this bold repositioning within Red Bull's driver lineup sets the stage for what could be another thrilling season of Formula 1 as new dynamics emerge and fresh rivalries are set to form on the track.
