Liam Lawson will be one of the standout figures at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where he is set to take on the iconic Goodwood Hillclimb at the wheel of a Red Bull RB7, rebranded with the current Visa Cash App Racing Bulls livery. The announcement was officially confirmed by Racing Bulls, which declared its return to the legendary British motorsport festival with its current Formula 1 race driver.
Lawson will share the track with other names closely tied to the Red Bull Racing legacy. These include Patrick Friesacher, a longtime Red Bull test driver known for promotional events, and David Coulthard, a Formula 1 veteran and 13-time Grand Prix winner. Also joining the festival under the Red Bull umbrella is the Red Bull Sim Racing team, which will host two state-of-the-art simulator stations where fans can challenge professional virtual racers. Jarno Opmeer will be present on Friday and Saturday, while Sebastian Job is scheduled to appear on Sunday.
A permanent display in the main paddock will showcase the Red Bull RB17 hypercar—a high-performance machine developed entirely in-house by Red Bull Advanced Technologies under the guidance of legendary engineer Adrian Newey. Limited to just 50 units worldwide, the RB17 can exceed 350 km/h and represents the pinnacle of motorsport engineering and design.
“As we continue to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Formula 1, we are thrilled to return to the Goodwood Festival of Speed in partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing,” said Peter Bayer, CEO of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. “I’m especially pleased that Liam will be tackling the Goodwood Hill. It will be an iconic moment to share with such passionate and loyal motorsport fans.”
Lawson’s surprising resurgence: From overlooked to outstanding
The decision to feature Liam Lawson at such a prestigious event is far from coincidental. At the moment, the New Zealand driver is experiencing a true career renaissance—becoming a symbol of resilience and redemption in the Formula 1 paddock.
Just a short time ago, Lawson’s journey through the Red Bull system appeared to be over. He was handed a brief opportunity to race with Red Bull Racing, but after just two underwhelming Grand Prix performances, he was moved to the junior team—Visa Cash App Racing Bulls—in what many at the time considered a definitive demotion. But in hindsight, that decision may have been a blessing in disguise.
Since joining the sister team, Lawson has developed into one of the most consistent and competitive drivers in the midfield. Race after race, he has outperformed his teammate Yuki Tsunoda—the very driver who had replaced him in the senior squad. It has been a quiet yet relentless form of sporting revenge, rebuilding his reputation and proving that he belongs in the top tier of the Formula 1 driver lineup.
Another factor working in Lawson’s favor is that he has managed to stay removed from the chaos engulfing Red Bull Racing in recent weeks. The controversial departure of Christian Horner has created significant instability within the main team, but the ripple effect has only lightly touched the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. While Lawson did lose a key ally with the exit of Team Principal Laurent Mekies, the team’s leadership transition is being handled by Alan Permane—an experienced figure who already knows Lawson well. In a sport where uncertainty can cost drivers valuable tenths of a second, such continuity could be crucial for the young New Zealander.
A career reborn away from the spotlight
Ironically, Lawson’s so-called demotion may have saved his career. Removed from the intense scrutiny and internal pressures of a top-tier Red Bull seat—not to mention a notoriously difficult car and a high-profile teammate—he was able to rebuild his confidence, rediscover his speed, and restore his standing in the Formula 1 paddock.
Now, by driving the iconic RB7 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Lawson is doing more than just celebrating Red Bull’s past glories. He’s showcasing his present resurgence and representing the powerful narrative of second chances. His participation is a reminder that even in the high-stakes world of Formula 1, underdogs can fight their way back into the spotlight—and sometimes, being temporarily forgotten is what allows true talent to shine.
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