Horner hints at 'split decision' over Lawson promotion

Christian Horner has revealed Red Bull's senior management made a "split decision" over whether Liam Lawson or Yuki Tsunoda would replace Sergio Perez.

Lawson was ultimately given the nod to replace Perez and partner Max Verstappen for 2025, becoming the least experienced junior driver ever promoted to the senior Red Bull team with just 11 grands prix to his name. 

Tsunoda was given a recent test in the Red Bull, and although impressive, was not deemed the suitable candidate for promotion despite performing well in the 2024 season.

Reflecting on the decision to promote Lawson instead of Tsunoda, Horner indicated the decision was not unanimous among the key Red Bull decision-makers.

"I think the feeling within the team is that the trajectory Liam is on has more potential, which is why we've taken that route," Horner told select media including RacingNews365. 

"But that doesn't rule Yuki out in the future - it was a very split decision and Yuki certainly impressed the team when he tested in Abu Dhabi. 

"His feedback was good and, if required, he would be there to be drawn upon if we needed to. 

"We have a lot of information available to us, and 11 races is a short amount of time, but if you delve closely into [Liam's] performances in qualifying, the margins to Yuki were very tight, and on race pace, he's come out, on average, above Yuki. 

"There is very little to choose between them, but when you look and consider that Liam is still only 11 races and already at that level, the potential for growth is still significant."

Standing up to Verstappen

Perez endured a torrid final season at Red Bull, scoring just 48 points in the 18 races between the Emilia Romagna GP and the Abu Dhabi finale. 

The pressure of being Verstappen's team-mate has also proven too much for Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and Albon in the past, but Horner believes Lawson will be different.

"What has really stood out with him has been his attitude and his ability to deal with pressure, Brazil was an interesting one," he added.

"All the rookies looked a little bit like rookies, but Liam didn't drop the car, he didn't make mistakes and looked like a seasoned campaigner, and he is agile as well. 

"He has got broad shoulders, which you need to be in that seat, and Checo, certainly for three of the four years coped with that pressure, and Liam has got the right character to cope with the pressure of being Max's team-mate and the expectations on him are very clear.

"We are not expecting him to beat Max, he is a generational talent, but the objective is for Liam to be as close as he can and bag as many points so we don't have a 285 points deficit between the cars."