Helmut Marko sets Liam Lawson’s goal for his first F1 season at Red Bull. Helmut Marko has set the main goal for Liam Lawson in his first season with Red Bull.

Today, it was officially confirmed that Liam Lawson will be a Red Bull driver for the 2025 season. An important step forward for the New Zealander, who will face four-time world champion Max Verstappen. A significant challenge, with Helmut Marko clarifying Lawson’s first goal at Red Bull for 2025.

Liam Lawson’s arrival at Red Bull was expected, but until the official announcement, the potential candidates were him and Yuki Tsunoda. However, likely due to some friction between the Japanese driver and Christian Horner, the two parties did not reach an agreement. Additionally, there is the influence of Honda, Yuki Tsunoda’s main sponsor, which will leave Red Bull as a Power Unit supplier at the end of 2025.

In an interview on the Inside Line F1 Podcast, Marko clarified the goals for the new Red Bull driver in 2025. The New Zealander will likely face his first full season as a primary driver, but with the constant pressure that defines the Red Bull team. After just 11 races in F1, Liam Lawson has demonstrated a high level of competitiveness, with Horner stating, “He is a real racer.”

“Liam has already shown that he is a tough driver, not afraid to fight with the big names as he did with Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, and even Sergio Perez.” A clear reference to the battles that took place in Mexico, the United States, and Brazil, showing Lawson’s true character.

“So now, if he has a full season, he needs to prove that he can race again. In qualifying, he was more or less at the same level as Yuki, and we need to see how much more there is to do to understand if he’s becoming one of the great drivers. I’d also say that in races, he is more consistent, with a pace that is close to the other drivers. There’s still a bit of variation, but that’s, I mean, he hasn’t had 10 Grand Prix so far. That only comes with experience.”