Liam Lawson has replaced Sergio Perez at Red Bull ahead of the 2025 F1 season (Image: GETTY)
Red Bull star has insisted he has “a lot of respect” for after . Lawson has replaced Perez ahead of the 2025 season after the 34-year-old endured a miserable year on the track.
Perez could only muster an eighth-place finish in the Drivers’ Championship standings, despite the fact his team-mate won his fourth consecutive title.
The Mexican finished on the podium on just four occasions and failed to win a single Grand Prix throughout the year.
Lawson was asked about Perez during an embargoed interview in the aftermath of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix earlier this month.
And the 22-year-old explained. “I have a lot of respect for Perez. I remember watching a race in Malaysia [in 2012] when I was a kid and Perez was at Sauber and he was fighting with Fernando Alonso. It’s really crazy to run against these guys now.
“So I have a lot of respect for what Perez has done in this sport and what he’s done for this team. It’s going to be difficult to replace him, but of course it’s exciting.”
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Sergio Perez will not be racing for Red Bull next year, despite signing a new deal in the summer (Image: GETTY)
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Lawson featured in five Grands Prix for ’s junior team Alpha Tauri last year and appeared for the same outfit on six occasions this year following their rebrand as .
And he was confirmed as Verstappen’s new team-mate last Thursday as chief said: “Liam’s performances over the course of his two stints with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls have demonstrated that he’s not only capable of delivering strong results but that he’s also a real racer, not afraid to mix it with the best and come out on top.
“There’s no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of the greatest drivers ever seen in F1, is a daunting task, but I’m sure Liam can rise to that challenge and deliver some outstanding results for us next year.”
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Perez, meanwhile, announced his departure a day earlier despite the fact he had been contracted to until the end of the 2026 season.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing team,” he said.
“Driving for has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way.”