The 2024 Formula 1 season shook things up in a way fans hadn’t seen in years. McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all came out swinging, challenging Red Bull Racing’s long-standing dominance. Max Verstappen still clinched the Drivers’ Championship, but McLaren’s hard-charging finish to take the Constructors’ crown proved that Red Bull is no longer untouchable.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner opened up in a candid Sky F1 interview, reflecting on the intense 2024 season and revealing his strategic moves to keep Red Bull in the fight. The biggest talking point? His decision to partner Verstappen with rookie Liam Lawson, bypassing Yuki Tsunoda despite the Japanese driver’s career-best performances.

The Lawson call: Horner’s calculated risk

When Red Bull announced 22-year-old Liam Lawson as Verstappen’s new teammate, it sent shockwaves through the paddock. Lawson, with only 11 F1 starts to his name, beat out Yuki Tsunoda for the seat. And this wasn’t because Tsunoda had a bad season—far from it. The Japanese driver delivered his best year yet, outperforming and essentially retiring veteran Daniel Ricciardo and proving he could handle the pressure at the sharp end of the grid.

So why Lawson? “We have all the information we need. Both Yuki and Liam have strong credentials, but the key factor is preparing for what will be an incredibly tight season,” said Horner. “Next year in what will be arguably the tightest season in Formula 1 for many many years… We’re going to have a Hamilton-Leclerc lineup next year. We’ve already seen Norris-Piastri what that is capable of and of course George Russell with another newcomer in uh in Antonelli. So the decisions that we’ll make, we’ll have that in mind.”

Lawson’s rise to Red Bull hasn’t been traditional. Called up mid-season as a substitute in 2023 and 2024, the Kiwi showcased a calm, collected approach under pressure. Despite being out qualified and outscored by Tsunoda during their shared races, his raw talent and ability to adapt quickly caught Red Bull’s attention. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, explained: “It was a very tight decision. Yuki’s progress has been remarkable, but Liam’s potential ceiling and ability to handle high-stakes situations gave him the edge.”

One factor that added intrigue was Tsunoda’s long-standing relationship with Honda, Red Bull’s outgoing engine supplier. But Horner was quick to squash any notion of external influence: “The important thing is to have the best lineup for next year. Yuki’s Abu Dhabi test was impressive, but we believe Liam’s development aligns better with our goals.”

For Tsunoda, the news is undoubtedly a blow, but his journey isn’t over. He’ll stay with RB for another season, this time partnered with Formula 2 runner-up Isack Hadjar. “Yuki has shown incredible growth,” Horner said. He maintained that this was an opportunity for him to consolidate his reputation and keep the door open for future opportunities.

The 2025 contenders: An uber-talented field packed with potential

Horner’s call for a closely fought 2025 season isn’t without merit. McLaren’s resurgence in 2024 was the stuff of dreams. Lando Norris finally secured his maiden Grand Prix victory and added three more wins, leading McLaren to a stunning Constructors’ Championship after 26 long years. Oscar Piastri, while not quite at Norris’ level yet, also grabbed two wins and proved to be a reliable asset for the team with world-class race-craft in only his second F1 season. The overall feeling in the paddock is that to be a title winner, while he has the raw pace, Norris still needs to improve in wheel-to-wheel combat but there’s no denying McLaren’s potential.

Ferrari had their own moments of brilliance, with Charles Leclerc standing out as a model of consistency. Iconic wins in Monaco, Monza, and the United States underlined his credentials as a top-tier driver and one of the few ones who could possibly take it to Verstappen. The arrival of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton for 2025 adds another devastating talent to the Scuderia’s ranks, who despite having a mediocre 2024 by his own standards, still showed the old magic is there with some stellar performances like his ninth win in Silverstone. It’s a lineup that could easily dominate if Ferrari nails the car development.

Mercedes, meanwhile, continued to evolve. George Russell emerged as a true team leader, consistently outperforming Lewis Hamilton in qualifying and claiming victories in Austria and Las Vegas. With highly rated rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli joining the fold, Mercedes is banking on a mix of experience and raw talent to challenge at the front.

The stakes for 2025 couldn’t be higher. With multiple teams fielding world-class lineups and the closest competition in years, Red Bull’s margin for error is razor-thin. Horner’s confidence in Lawson’s potential and Verstappen’s generational skill underscores the team’s determination to stay on top.

As the countdown to the new season begins, one thing is clear: 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable chapter in Formula 1 history. Whether Red Bull’s gamble on Lawson pays off or their rivals steal the spotlight, fans are in for a spectacular showdown.