Source:REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
[Saba Sports News] Red Bull Racing announced that New Zealand driver Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez in 2025 as Max Verstappen’s new teammate. However, Lawson’s youth and lack of racing experience, compared to the more seasoned Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda, have raised questions among fans and the media. In response, team principal Christian Horner conducted damage control, explaining the reasons behind choosing Lawson. Horner stated that Tsunoda is a very fast driver with three to four seasons of experience and performed impressively in tire tests in Abu Dhabi, earning praise from engineers. Regarding Lawson, when analyzing his race data, it is evident that his race speed is slightly better than Tsunoda’s, and he has demonstrated mental resilience and tenacity. In qualifying, although his speed was very close to Tsunoda’s, considering that Lawson has only participated in 11 races, there is room for improvement, and he will only get better and stronger in future races. Lawson had spent a year in the DTM series, where he quickly adapted to driving a Ferrari GT car and usually had the upper hand when competing alongside Alexander Albon. Therefore, racing skills are Lawson’s strong suit, and he is unafraid of battling with others, which Horner believes will lead to excellent performances for the team.