F1
Lawson's goal at Red Bull in 2025: 'Win the Constructors' Championship'
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It's official: Liam Lawson is officially a pilot Red Bull ! At just 22 years old, the New Zealander is climbing into one of the best teams on the grid, six-time world champion in Formula 1. An exceptional promotion for someone who has only 11 Grands Prix under his belt, but who managed to convince Christian Horner and his team to select him and prefer him to Yuki tsunoda to replace Sergio Perez in 2025.
A dream come true for the Kiwi, who should have the opportunity to play at the forefront next year and claim podiums, or even victories. “It’s very exciting, I still can’t believe it! I can’t stop smiling, says the new Red Bull driver in the podcast Talking Bulls. This is the first time I have had some time to [think about it]. When I was a reservist and I went to Zandvoort (to replace Daniel Ricciardo, injured in 2023, Ed.), obviously it was with exceptional circumstances. And then Austin [this year] too, there were probably two weeks before I knew it was going to happen, so at least now I have a whole winter break to think about it. I don't really know if I like it, because I just want to get into it! It's positive to have time to really soak it in, do the preparation, come back strong and ready."
Lawson "now in an excellent position" to play the title
In this first public reaction, Liam Lawson explained how he had received the news from Red Bull, as he was competing with Yuki Tsunoda at Racing Bulls for a promotion to the parent team. “I knew it was going to be a change. Of course, nothing was planned or set in stone or anything like that, and it’s all performance-based, as always. They had a meeting and Christian [Horner] was kind enough to text me, just to say it was a good meeting, and then he called me to tell me the news. He gave me the classic line: ‘Welcome to Red Bull Racing’ – that was very exciting to hear on the phone!”
Even though he will be competing in his first full season in Formula 1 next year, and despite the pressure of taking on the role at Red Bull alongside the four-time world champion Max Verstappen, the 22-year-old driver wants to be ambitious and aims for a world title in the long term. His first objective: to bring the Constructors' title back to Red Bull in 2025.
“As Formula 1 drivers, we all have one common goal: to win the world championship. That’s been my goal, ever since I was a kid wanting to be a Formula 1 driver, and it’s obvious that I’m in a great position now, underlines the New Zealander. I don't expect to win a world championship straight away. I know the team's goal is obviously to win the constructors' championship and that's what I came to do, I'm here to help achieve that goal. But personally, I'm trying to be competitive as quickly as possible. Obviously, I have the best teammate to learn from."
ALSO READ > IN PICTURES – Before Hadjar, these drivers promoted to F1 from the Red Bull Junior Team
Dorian Grangier
A young journalist nostalgic for the motorsport of yesteryear. Raised on the exploits of Sébastien Loeb and Fernando Alonso.
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Checkered flag
20/12/2024 at 06:28 a.m.
It's good, he's lucid, he understood that he won't be champion in the Max Verstappen Racing Team, so he's concentrating on the constructors' championship, that'll please Grandpa Helmut.
Yves-Henri RANDIER
20/12/2024 at 05:56 a.m.
Lawson's stated goal for 2025: win the constructors' championship with Red Bull. A way to put a lot of pressure on himself before the season even starts! One thing is already almost certain: if the Kiwi's trajectory is not good during 2025, immediate demotion to Ridiculous Bulls in place of the person who will then replace him at the next level...