Liam Lawson

Liam Lawson has reached every Formula 1 seat through the back door. The New Zealander, born in Hastings in 2002, made his debut at Zandvoort in 2023 in place of Daniel Ricciardo, who had broken a hand, and in five races he found time to score his first points, ninth in Singapore. That year he was also runner-up in Japan's Super Formula, decided at the final round.

In 2024 he returned to the grid in Austin, again in Ricciardo's place, this time because Ricciardo was leaving the team for good. His way of defending on track, giving nothing away to anyone, earned him promotion to Red Bull for 2025 as Max Verstappen's team-mate.

It lasted two races. Red Bull sent him back to Racing Bulls before Japan and promoted Yuki Tsunoda in his place. Far from sinking, he ended the season with his best result to that point, fifth in Baku. In 2026 he moved up to Red Bull again midway through the year, at Zandvoort, and three races later, in Baku, he was back at Racing Bulls.

Not a single full season in the same car, and still a fifth place in Monaco in 2026. He is the driver who best sums up what it means to grow up in the Red Bull academy.