New Max Verstappen F1 role confirmed as Red Bull driver SWAP revealed

Max Verstappen downbeat graphic — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Social

Red Bull driver SWAP revealed as new Verstappen role confirmed

Max Verstappen has been replaced in the latest official Red Bull F1 release

Kerry Violet F1 News Editor

F1 editor and journalist covering motorsport since 2024.

Wednesday 29 January 2025 22:53 Updated: 16:33

A new role has been confirmed for Max Verstappen with Red Bull Formula 1 team after a driver swap was revealed via an official team release on social media.

Christian Horner's outfit recently shuffled their driver lineup for 2025, handing Verstappen a new team-mate for the upcoming season in Liam Lawson.

F1 HEADLINES: Verstappen Red Bull REPLACEMENT revealed as 2025 axe confirmed

Article continues under video

Lawson was promoted to race alongside the reigning champion following his six-race stint at junior team VCARB, and has now been handed what many would consider the toughest job in F1.

The 22-year-old replaced Sergio Perez after the Mexican star finished last season on back-to-back DNF results which ultimately cost Red Bull second place in the constructors' standings.

The Red Bull F1 family reassessed their driver lineups for 2025

Max Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive championship with Red Bull in 2024

To celebrate Verstappen’s fourth championship, click here to pre-order the official champion cap from Castore, as worn by the Red Bull driver following his championship-winning drive in Las Vegas.

Verstappen takes on Red Bull coaching role

As the 2025 season approaches, Verstappen has returned to the wheel, competing in sim racing events throughout January, which saw him slapped with his first penalty of the year.

As an avid sim racer and four-time F1 champion however, Red Bull clearly felt that the Dutchman was the ideal candidate to become a coach for the team in the latest collaboration with England Cricket.

In a video uploaded to the F1 team's official YouTube account, Verstappen could be seen coaching from the sidelines as England cricketers Issy Wong, Reece Topley and Will Jacks tried their hand racing on the sim, tackling the Baku F1 track map with tips from Verstappen.

The Red Bull star got behind the wheel to first show the group how it was done, delivering a stark warning over the street circuit.

"Honestly they gave us one of the most difficult tracks on the calendar" he admitted.

The trio went on to give the track their best shot, with Jacks topping the leaderboard with a lap time of 01:44.

Fast bowler ☑️ Fast driver ☑️

Can Max coach @EnglandCricket to a good lap time in the Castore Sim Racing Challenge? 📝#BetterNeverStops || #F1
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) January 28, 2025