Lawson begins 2025 F1 journey with Red Bull with seat fitting

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Liam Lawson has officially begun his preparations for the 2025 Formula 1 season with a visit this week to Red Bull Racing's headquarters in Milton Keynes.

The Kiwi, who replaces Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s teammate, underwent the crucial step of a seat fitting for the RB21 – the car he will drive in his first full season with the team.

Red Bull confirmed Lawson's promotion to their top team shortly after the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, capping off a whirlwind end to the season for the young gun.

He edged out Racing Bulls colleague Yuki Tsunoda for the coveted seat, earning the opportunity to prove himself on Formula 1’s biggest stage and alongside the sport’s top driver.

Reconnecting with Familiar Faces

After spending the European winter back home in New Zealand, Lawson returned this week to the UK to begin preparations for the season ahead.

Speaking in a video shared on social media, Lawson expressed his excitement at reuniting with the team he has been part of for several years.

Read also:

Lawson: Clashes with Alonso, Perez not about ‘proving a point’

“Honestly, just seeing everybody, seeing the whole team again,” Lawson said. “It’s not a new team for me because I’ve been here for quite a few years as a junior and then being a reserve.

“It’s just cool to see everyone I’ve been working with for a few years. Now, to be an official driver, that’s exciting, being with everybody… I did the seat fit today.”

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The seat fitting is an integral part of any F1 driver’s pre-season preparations, ensuring the driver’s comfort and optimizing performance within the car. For Lawson, it marked the first tangible step in what promises to be a defining season.

High Expectations from Red Bull

Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has outlined clear targets for Lawson as he embarks on his full-time F1 career.

Despite having fewer than a dozen Grand Prix starts to his name, Lawson is expected to make significant contributions to Red Bull’s Constructors’ Championship ambitions, which faltered in 2024 despite Verstappen’s Drivers’ title.

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“He should be within three-tenths of Max in both qualifying and in the race,” Marko explained.

“That should be enough to get points for the Constructors’ Championship. He should also steadily increase his performance – if possible.”

Lawson’s journey from reserve driver to full-time Red Bull racer has officially begun, and his performance in the RB21 will be closely monitored, not only by his team but also by the entire F1 paddock.

With Verstappen as a benchmark and the weight of championship expectations, Lawson’s journey promises to be one of the most compelling storylines of the 2025 season.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.