By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp
Liam Lawson will replace Sergio Perez as Dutch champion Max Verstappen's Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate in the Formula One World Championship, Red Bull Racing announced Thursday.
After the announcement of Perez's departure earlier, one of the two Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT drivers (Red Bull's other Formula 1 team), Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, was expected to replace him.
Red Bull Racing chose to promote the 22-year-old New Zealander over his Japanese teammate.
"To be announced as an Oracle Red Bull Racing driver is a lifelong dream for me," said Lawson and added: "This is something I’ve wanted and worked towards since I was eight years old. It’s been an incredible journey so far."
Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar is expected to fill Lawson's shoes in the Racing Bulls-Honda RBPT.