Liam Lawson Set to Succeed Sergio Perez at Red Bull for Upcoming Season: Sources

Abu Dhabi, Dec 7 (NationPress) Following a disappointing season for Sergio Perez, which effectively caused the team to lose its pursuit of a third consecutive Constructors’ title, Red Bull has chosen to replace the 34-year-old driver with RB racer Liam Lawson for the next season.

As reported by Motorsports.com, Red Bull has made the decision to bring in the New Zealand driver and is currently devising a plan to transition the six-time race winner into a role as the team's ambassador.

This transition raises questions about Lawson’s abilities as a driver, considering he will be stepping into one of the fastest teams on the grid, while also highlighting the exclusion of Yuki Tsunoda, who has been with Red Bull’s sister team, VISA Cash App RB F1 Team, since 2021.

Uncertainty looms over Perez’s future once the race in Abu Dhabi concludes, with Horner confirming that discussions regarding the Mexican driver’s future are planned after the season ends.

“Certainly, Checo is our driver, and he continues to be contracted with the team,” stated Horner. “This season has not unfolded according to anyone's expectations, particularly regarding Checo's performance, which has been very challenging since Monaco. After this race, we will sit down and discuss the future.

“Checo has been a crucial part of our team,” he continued. “There is immense respect for him within the organization, and witnessing his struggles has been difficult for everyone. We will address everything after the season,” Horner was quoted as saying by Formula 1's official website.

Earlier this year in June, after a strong start to the season for Perez, Red Bull announced an extension of his contract until 2026. However, since then, Perez has only added 45 points to his total.

Perez enters the Abu Dhabi weekend as the only driver among the top four teams—McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull, and Mercedes—without a victory this season, and his underwhelming performance has contributed to Red Bull's exit from the chase for the 2024 Constructors’ Championship.

Horner also reflected on the decision to extend Perez’s contract, asserting that it was a sound choice at that time.

“At that moment, Sergio was performing exceptionally well, having achieved four podium finishes in the first five races. To ensure his focus and maintain his form throughout the season, we decided to act early, which evidently did not yield the expected results. Such is life sometimes,” he remarked.

“Looking beyond this year, Checo has made significant contributions to our team. He is a fantastic team player, a great individual, and highly regarded within the team. He has worked diligently during his four years with us and has played an essential role in the Constructors' Championships we’ve secured, along with the five Grand Prix victories he achieved in our car,” he added.