In a recent development within the Formula 1 world, Christian Horner, the team principal at Red Bull Racing, has hinted that young driver Liam Lawson could potentially replace Sergio Perez as a driver for the team in 2025. The move comes after Lawson was promoted to Red Bull’s sister team, RB, for the remaining six races of the 2024 F1 season.
Lawson, a talented racer from New Zealand, has taken over the seat left vacant by Daniel Ricciardo at the sister team and will be partnering with Yuki Tsunoda for the remainder of the current season. This promotion has raised speculation about the future of Perez, who currently holds a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2025.
Despite Perez’s contract, Horner acknowledged that the team is keeping an eye on the next generation of drivers, looking ahead to potential changes in the line-up alongside current star driver Max Verstappen. Perez, at 34 years old, has faced challenges this season, trailing Verstappen by a significant margin in the championship standings.
Horner highlighted the need for drivers to perform under pressure, noting that Ricciardo was initially brought in as a potential replacement for Perez if needed. The team is now keen to assess Lawson’s performance over the remaining races to determine if he could be a suitable contender to join the main Red Bull team in the future.
In addition to Lawson, Horner also mentioned the possibility of considering other young talents within the Red Bull driver programme, such as Isack Hadjar or Arvid Lindblad. There were even hints at a potential move for George Russell, currently with Mercedes, when his contract expires.
Horner expressed the difficulty in evaluating junior driver performances, citing the impressive displays of other young drivers like Ollie Bearman and Franco Colapinto in F1 this year. Despite the challenges in assessing talent, the team remains focused on identifying the best candidates for future roles within the team.
As Lawson prepares for his debut at the upcoming United States Grand Prix in Austin, all eyes will be on the young driver to see if he can make a strong impression and potentially secure a place in the Red Bull Racing team in the years to come. The Formula 1 community eagerly anticipates how this potential driver transition could reshape the dynamics within the team.