Liam Lawson reacts to Red Bull promotion as he details discussions with Christian Horner and outlines his goal

Liam Lawson has been sharing his reaction to the news that he will become a Red Bull driver in 2025, with the New Zealander giving an insight into how he found out about his promotion as well as what his goal will be as he prepares to go up against Max Verstappen.

Following the announcement on December 18 that Sergio Perez and the Milton Keynes squad had agreed to part ways with immediate effect off the back of a challenging season, speculation soon arose over who would replace the Mexican at the team.

ANALYSIS: Perez had a contract for 2025 – so why has his Red Bull journey come to an end now?

One day later it was confirmed that Lawson – who has impressed as a super-sub at RB across two respective stints in 2023 and 2024 – had been given the nod to make the step up and become Verstappen’s team mate next season.

Speaking on Red Bull’s Talking Bull podcast, a beaming Lawson said of the move: “It’s very exciting, I still can’t really believe it but I’m just excited. I can’t stop smiling.”

When asked if the news had sunk in yet, the 22-year-old responded: “Honestly, no. It’s the first time I’ve had a bit of time to [think about it], because normally I get stuff… when I was a reserve and I jumped in in Zandvoort [as a substitute for an injured Daniel Ricciardo in 2023], that was on the weekend that I found out, obviously it was a sort of freak circumstance.

“And then Austin [this year] as well, [it] was probably two weeks before I knew that that was going to happen, so at least now I have an off-season to think about it. I don’t really know if I like that, though, because I just want to get into it! I’m just excited. It’s positive [that] I have time to really let it sink in, spend the time, do the prep, come back strong and ready.”

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 10: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App RB — Lawson impressed Red Bull bosses enough during his second super-sub stint at RB in 2024 to earn himself a promotion

Lawson was then quizzed on the process of finding out the news, which came after a meeting had taken place amongst Red Bull bosses.

“I knew that this has been on the cards for a change, obviously nothing was planned or set in stone or anything like that, and it’s all performance-based, as it always is,” he explained.

ANALYSIS: Why Red Bull chose Lawson instead of Tsunoda as Perez's replacement

“They had the meeting and Christian [Horner] was kind enough to send me a text, just a heads-up that the meeting was good, and then he called me and basically gave me the news. And he gave me the classic one-liner, ‘welcome to Red Bull Racing’ – it was very exciting to hear over the phone! Yeah, it was cool.”

Looking ahead, Lawson will arrive at the team after a season in which they clinched the drivers’ championship via Verstappen but missed out on the constructors’, having slipped back to third in the final standings behind McLaren and Ferrari.

In terms of what his goal is, the new Red Bull driver commented: “Obviously as Formula 1 drivers we all have one goal that we share and that’s winning a world championship. That is my goal, and that’s been my goal since I was a kid and wanted to be a Formula 1 driver, and obviously now I’m in a great position.

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JUNE 03: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Liam — Lawson has praised new team mate Verstappen for the support he has shown him in the past

“It’s definitely not what I expect coming in – I don’t expect to come in and go straight away and win a world championship. I know that the team’s goal is obviously the constructors’ and that’s what I’m here to do, I’m here to help achieve that.

“But personally for me it’s trying to be in a competitive position as quickly as possible. Obviously I’ve got the best guy as my team mate to learn from.”

While Lawson admitted that he had not yet spoken with Verstappen following the news, the New Zealander praised the world champion for the support he has shown him in the past.

“Even when I was in Super Formula and other categories, I think Max is somebody that just loves motorsport and watches a lot of it,” said Lawson. “He’s somebody that has always been kind and supportive.

“When I came in last year as a reserve, when I was obviously feeling a lot of pressure in Zandvoort, he was somebody that was really good to talk to. It’s cool to go up against him and have him as a team mate – there’s nobody better to learn from, so for me it’s coming in and trying to be competitive as quickly as possible.”