P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Liam Lawson is stepping up to Red Bull with just 11 grand prix starts to his name.
Christian Horner emphasized the importance of shielding Liam Lawson from high expectations as a key priority for Red Bull in 2025. Lawson, a Kiwi driver, is joining the senior Red Bull team with limited grand prix experience, replacing Sergio Perez who had a disappointing ’24 season. Previous teammates of Max Verstappen, such as Gasly, Albon, and Perez, struggled, with Ricciardo leaving in 2018. Red Bull hopes improvements to the RB21 car will aid Lawson’s development as they aim to broaden the performance window and reduce pressure on him. Horner stressed the need to manage expectations for Lawson, considering the success of Verstappen and the team’s clear focus on maximizing performance from both drivers.
