Liam Lawson is a New Zealand racing driver born on February 11, 2002, in Hastings, New Zealand. He began competitive kart racing at the age of seven and has since progressed through various junior motorsport categories, including the Toyota Racing Series, FIA Formula 3, and FIA Formula 2.
In 2019, Lawson won the Toyota Racing Series, and in 2021, he finished third in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Carlin. He also competed in the Super Formula Championship in 2023, finishing as the runner-up.
Since 2019, Lawson has been a member of the Red Bull Junior Team. He made his Formula One debut at the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix, substituting for the injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri. Following Ricciardo’s departure from the team after the 2024 season, Lawson secured a full-time seat with Red Bull Racing for the 2025 season, partnering with Max Verstappen.
However, Lawson’s start to the 2025 season has been challenging. In the first two races, he failed to score points, with a best finish of 15th place in the Chinese Grand Prix. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has expressed support for Lawson, emphasizing the importance of time and adaptability in Formula One.
Despite this backing, reports suggest that Red Bull is considering a driver swap, with Yuki Tsunoda being a potential replacement. Tsunoda’s impressive performances have fueled speculation about him joining Red Bull ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.