Liam Lawson unveils his first Red Bull helmet: will he be Max Verstappen’s new ‘wingman’?. New helmet for Liam Lawson, his first as a Red Bull F1 driver.

Liam Lawson takes his place at Red Bull, debuting his first helmet as Verstappen’s number two in F1. The New Zealander is finally making his debut as a full-time driver—an extraordinary opportunity in one of the most demanding and, at times, ruthless teams on the grid. The risk of being crushed by the four-time world champion and his garage mate is high, judging by recent history, but the 23-year-old from Hastings does not seem intimidated.

New year, new faces. Formula 1 is filling up with ambitious young drivers eager to earn their place among the greats. A strong generational shift is underway, affecting both backmarker teams and top contenders. This opens the door for Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar at Sauber and Racing Bulls, as well as Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson at Mercedes and Red Bull.

The New Zealander is not exactly a rookie making his first steps in F1. In 2023, between the Dutch and Qatar Grands Prix, he stepped in at AlphaTauri to replace the injured Daniel Ricciardo. When the Australian returned, Lawson was relegated to the sidelines despite his impressive ninth-place finish in Singapore. Last season, it was once again at Marina Bay where Ricciardo had to step aside, giving Lawson another chance to shine.

Liam Lawson – Red Bull: The Opportunity to Become the New Verstappen
Not all of the 2025 rookies are being met with widespread acclaim. Some already believe Jack Doohan will be out after just a few races to make way for the more promising Franco Colapinto. But criticism isn’t limited to the Alpine driver—Liam Lawson is also facing his share of skepticism.