Red Bull has chosen. Liam Lawson will be Max Verstappen's new teammate starting from the 2025 season, ending Sergio Perez's contract a year early. The news, now official, closes a long period of speculation and reflections within the team of Milton Keynes, who decided to focus on the young New Zealand talent, overtaking Yuki Tsunoda and Franco Colapinto in the pecking order.
Perez says goodbye after four years at Red Bull
Sergio Perez left Red Bull yesterday after four seasons of ups and downs. Arriving in 2021 to support Verstappen in winning the title, the Mexican has had an up and down path: protagonist in the fight for Max's first championship, but increasingly in difficulty in the last two seasons. Despite the contract renewal signed at the beginning of 2024 until 2026, Perez has not been able to meet the team's expectations, accumulating disappointing results and contributing to the loss of the Constructors' title, disputed until the last race between McLaren and Ferrari.
Christian horner has always publicly defended the Mexican driver, recalling his contribution in key moments for the team, but admitted that the decision to extend his contract early “did not work as expected”. Now, with Perez’s future away from Milton Keynes, a new era begins for Red Bull.
Lawson beats Tsunoda and Colapinto for Red Bull seat
Liam Lawson's promotion marks an important moment for the Red Bull youth program. Although Yuki Tsunoda has shown solidity and consistency in recent seasons, and Franco Colapinto has attracted attention with his potential, Lawson has long been the favorite within the team.
A surprise rookie in 2024 in place of Ricciardo, Lawson has impressed with solid performances, including points finishes at COTA and Interlagos. Although he has shown room for improvement, as highlighted by his incident with Bottas in Qatar, the New Zealander has earned the team’s trust with his ability to adapt quickly and his aggressive on-track mentality.
Yuki Tsunoda, on the other hand, is paying for a political situation linked to his main sponsor, Honda, which will no longer be linked to Red Bull starting in 2026. Despite superior results to his teammates in the VCARB team and great consistency, the Japanese seems destined to remain in the satellite team for another season.
An uncertain future for Perez and a challenge for Lawson
For Perez, the future remains an unknown. Rumours suggest the possibility of a role as a Red Bull ambassador, similar to that held by David Coulthard, but it remains to be seen whether the Mexican driver will accept this solution or opt for new challenges on the track.
For Lawson, however, the doors open to a titanic challenge: to partner Max Verstappen and compete against the best drivers in the world in a transition phase for Red Bull, which will have to work to recover the ground lost in 2024. The pressure will be very high, but the New Zealander seems ready to seize this unique opportunity.
2025 promises to be a crucial season for Red Bull, which will rely on a new driver pairing to return to the top and recover the Constructors' title, which slipped away this year after a long hegemony.
