Why Red Bull’s Liam Lawson announcement was ‘super unusual’ after Sergio Perez exit

Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

The Mexican has opted to step aside after four years with the team following pressure to keep his seat in 2024. Perez suffered a disastrous season with Red Bull, finishing eighth in the standings having not finished on the podium after Shanghai or the top five after Miami.

Perez is said to have cost Red Bull £23m in 2024 – presumably through crash damage and losing the Constructors’ Championship by finishing third behind McLaren and Ferrari – which is unsustainable for a team that wants to fight for a world title.

The 34-year-old seemed to know that himself as he has now decided to leave Red Bull. Perez’s final radio message in Abu Dhabi was telling as he sounded as if he knew his time with the team was over.

Hours after Perez confirmed his exit, Red Bull announced that Visa Cash App RB driver Lawson would be promoted to the main team, snubbing teammate Yuki Tsunoda.

The Japanese driver has spent four years with the Faenza-based team while Lawson has only competed in 11 Grand Prix so far. However, Tsunoda’s backing from Honda is said to be the reason why he is being kept at RB as the Japanese manufacturer supplies Red Bull’s engines.

Lawrence Barretto says it is ‘super unusual’ for Red Bull to announce Liam Lawson this late in the year

Perez’s departure from Red Bull had been rumoured for months as his poor form continued in 2024 despite the team giving him a contract for the 2025 season. The Mexican scored 49 points in the last 18 Grand Prix.

Speaking on the official Formula 1 YouTube channel, journalist Lawrence Barretto highlighted the ‘big job’ Lawson has ahead of him going up against Max Verstappen, but was also taken aback by how long it took for Red Bull to announce him.

He says that this is ‘super unusual’ for a frontrunner to do as it is typically seen in smaller teams trying to assess their options.

“Hasn’t he got the biggest job on his hands? I think stepping into that seat alongside Max Verstappen, four-time world champion,” said Barretto.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull Racing F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

“It’s super unusual for a top team to wait until this late in a year to decide what their line-up is going to be for next year.

“Normally it’s the smaller teams, they’re kind of just seeing who’s maybe left or just kind of finalising the deals and trying to fight over drivers.

“So, for Red Bull to have left it this late, kind of shows the real challenge I think that they’ve faced this year and not really knowing what to do with Sergio Perez after they gave him that long-term deal right at the start of the year.”

Red Bull have confirmed Isack Hadjar as Liam Lawson’s replacement at RB

With Lawson moving to Red Bull, Tsunoda will remain with RB for a fifth year having signed a new deal with the team earlier in the year.

Lawson’s promotion opened up a seat at the Faenza-based outfit, which has now been officially filled by Formula 2 driver Isack Hadjar.

READ MORE: Who is Visa Cash App RB driver Isack Hadjar? Everything you need to know

The Frenchman will join the team for the 2025 season having had FP1 outings with Red Bull in 2024 at Silverstone at Abu Dhabi.

However, his sessions left something to be desired with several mistakes made and many outbursts over his radio. Helmut Marko has told Hadjar to control his emotions ahead of his chance in the pinnacle of motorsport.