Lawson: "Great opportunity to learn from Verstappen"

"There's more opportunity than ever to have someone like him as a teammate, somebody who's been in this team for 10 years and obviously he's just won the last four world championships."

Many believe being Max Verstappen's Formula 1 teammate is the hardest job on the grid, but Liam Lawson sees the upsides.

After the 2024 season it was announced that Sergio Perez will leave Red Bull, with Lawson graduating from VCARB to the Austrian team.

It marks the New Zealander's second promotion in a row, having replaced Daniel Ricciardo at the Faenza-based team after the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix.

Lawson will now begin a full-time F1 season for the first time in his career, with Verstappen in the other side of the garage.

According to Lawson, there is no one better to be paired up with on the grid.

"There’s more opportunity than ever to have someone like him as a teammate, somebody who’s been in this team for 10 years and obviously he’s just won the last four world championships," Lawson said at the ORBR Brand Shoot.

"There’s nobody better to align everything that I’m doing with because all of our data is going to be shared.

"For me, that’s a great opportunity to learn. There’s nobody better to learn, to improve off. So that’s exciting."

Lawson does still recognise the challenge, as several young talents have struggled to keep up with the now four-time World Champion over the years.

"But obviously at the same time, having somebody so quick and competitive is going to come with its challenges," Lawson added.

"So for me, it’s just about making the most of that."