Liam Lawson steps into Formula 1’s toughest role: Verstappen’s teammate. Can he avoid the pitfalls that doomed Gasly, Albon, and Pérez?
For several years, Max Verstappen has dominated each of his Red Bull teammates, reducing them to mere spectators before they vanished from the paddock. In 2025, Liam Lawson hopes to break this relentless cycle. But how has his journey begun?
A Mixed but Misleading First Test
The raw numbers aren’t spectacular: 11th fastest in Bahrain testing, six-tenths off the triple world champion, with limited mileage—only a sick Lance Stroll completed fewer laps.
Yet judging Lawson purely on these stats would be misleading. He only had one full day of running, while the final day—typically the most representative—wasn’t available to him. Rain, minor reliability issues, and experimental setups all disrupted his session.
More importantly, any direct comparison with Verstappen must be made cautiously. The track conditions between their respective sessions were completely different. Observers on-site even noted that Lawson wrestled with an unpredictable RB21—just like Verstappen himself.
Technical Feedback That’s Already Impressing
If there’s a more telling indicator than the timing sheets, it’s the feedback from Red Bull’s engineers and management. And on that front, Lawson is already scoring points.
Even Christian Horner has praised his technical input, describing it as “very similar to Max’s.” That’s no small detail. Since last year, Red Bull has believed that Lawson might be more compatible with Verstappen than his predecessors.
Where Pierre Gasly crumbled under pressure in pre-season 2019 with two avoidable crashes, Lawson has pushed the limits without crossing the line. Where Sergio Pérez gradually created a tense atmosphere within the garage, Lawson is seen as a breath of fresh air.
According to journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm, the environment at Red Bull is now more relaxed, in contrast to the final stages of the Pérez era when “internal tensions became palpable.” Lawson is therefore stepping into a healthier, more supportive setting for his development.
A Monumental Challenge Awaits
Of course, Lawson has yet to face Verstappen in race conditions. Many Red Bull drivers have believed they could challenge the Dutchman—only to be crushed.
Unlike Gasly, Albon, or Pérez, however, Lawson isn’t coming in with the illusion of beating Verstappen. His goal is clear: to be a reliable number two, a valuable asset in Red Bull’s title pursuit.
There are benchmarks: Pérez averaged a 0.452s gap to Verstappen in qualifying over four seasons. But by 2024, that gap had widened to 0.545s, marking his decline. If Lawson can do better, he will have already proven to be an upgrade.
Another key metric is his points contribution. Pérez accounted for just 26% of Red Bull’s points in 2024, a disastrous figure reminiscent of Gasly’s short-lived stint in 2019. For comparison, Albon contributed around 33%, while Pérez peaked at 40% in 2022, a level deemed acceptable.
First Test: Clearing the Australia Hurdle
Lawson’s qualifying debut will be the first true indicator. Both Gasly and Albon struggled immediately, failing on their first Saturdays with Red Bull. Even Pérez was eliminated in Q2 in his first Grand Prix with the team.
If Lawson reaches Q3 in Melbourne, it would be a first for a Red Bull rookie in the Verstappen era. But the real challenge comes next: keeping pace with a driver who continuously improves throughout the season.
Red Bull isn’t asking him to achieve the impossible, but history shows that even being a strong number two is a formidable challenge. Lawson appears to have the mentality, skill, and approach to take it on. But will he stay in the spotlight, or will he become just another casualty of the Verstappen era?
The first answers will come in Melbourne.
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Red Bull’s Next Hope: Can Lawson Survive the Verstappen Era? Red Bull’s Next Hope: Can Lawson Survive the Verstappen Era? Red Bull’s Next Hope: Can Lawson Survive the Verstappen Era?
