Lawson turns into the fourth team-mate to Verstappen since Australian Daniel Ricciardo selected to depart Crimson Bull on the finish of 2018.
Perez adopted Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon in being dropped for failing to persuade Crimson Bull their performances have been an appropriate degree for a second driver.
Horner stated: “There is no doubt that racing alongside Max, a four-time champion and undoubtedly one of many best drivers ever seen in F1, is a frightening job, however I am certain Liam can rise to that problem and ship some excellent outcomes for us subsequent yr.”
Lawson made his F1 debut on the 2023 Dutch Grand Prix as an alternative choice to Ricciardo, who broke his hand in a crash in follow at Zandvoort.
He scored a degree for tenth place in solely his third grand prix in Singapore earlier than Ricciardo returned for the ultimate 4 races of the season.
Ricciardo had initially been put within the automotive to determine his credentials to return to Crimson Bull alongside Verstappen, however he was dropped and changed by Lawson after this yr’s Singapore Grand Prix.
Lawson has out-qualified Tsunoda solely twice since he returned, for the dash races on the Sao Paulo and Qatar Grands Prix, and was on common 0.077 seconds slower over one lap.
However Crimson Bull have by no means been satisfied that Tsunoda, who’s at Racing Bulls on the behest of engine provider Honda, had what it takes to be an acceptable driver for the senior workforce.
His day in a Crimson Bull on the post-season check in Abu Dhabi didn’t change their minds.
A combative drive from Lawson at the US Grand Prix to ninth place, the place he acquired the higher of Aston Martin’s two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, and a battle with Perez in Mexico Metropolis that led to contact, are among the many performances which have satisfied them he’s price an opportunity.
His different factors end was one other ninth place, after qualifying fifth, for the moist Sao Paulo Grand Prix – two locations behind Tsunoda over each one lap and the race distance.
Lawson stated: “To be introduced as a Crimson Bull Racing driver is a lifelong dream for me, that is one thing I’ve wished and labored in the direction of since I used to be eight years previous.
“It has been an unimaginable journey to date. I’m tremendous excited to work alongside Max and study from a world champion, I’ve little doubt I’ll study from his experience. I can not wait to get going.”
Frenchman Isack Hadjar, who completed second in Components 2 this season, is predicted to affix Racing Bulls alongside Tsunoda
