Lawson Set Tough Goals by Marko: Stay Close to Verstappen

Marko warns Lawson not to challenge Verstappen but urges him to deliver consistent performances within three-tenths of the champion.

Dr. Helmut Marko has set clear goals for Liam Lawson, Max Verstappen’s new teammate for 2025.

For Perez’s replacement, the focus must remain sharp. Marko advises the New Zealander not to aim at defeating his teammate. Instead, his priority will be to perform significantly closer to Verstappen than Sergio Perez did, with the aim of reclaiming the Constructors’ Championship.

“Liam Lawson is mentally the strongest of our juniors, despite his limited Grand Prix experience,” Marko stated.

“However, it’s crucial to accept that with Max, you can’t beat him. No one can. And in terms of talent, even with limited experience, Liam has the most potential for further development. That’s why we chose him over Yuki Tsunoda.”

Marko expects Lawson to be “three-tenths of a second off Max in both qualifying and races” and to score “considerably more championship points than Sergio Perez.”

“He’s part of a team with the best driver in Formula 1 and shouldn’t attempt—like many drivers before him—to match Max with technical tweaks, absurd setups, or strategy. Accepting Max’s superiority is key. Trying to beat him hasn’t worked for any of his previous teammates.”

Ultimately, Verstappen is logically set to remain Red Bull Racing’s undisputed number one in 2025. Marko sees clarity in the hierarchy as an advantage.

“At McLaren, they’ll likely wait before deciding between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. That will again play to Max’s benefit. At Ferrari, it’s clear there’ll be a battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, and I doubt either will settle for a number-two role.”

“We’ll see if Kimi Antonelli immediately asserts himself at Mercedes against George Russell. But their priority is to deliver a car capable of performing consistently across all tracks.”