Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has told Liam Lawson he must be winning points at every Grand Prix and assisting Max Verstappen at the very front of the grid in 2025.
The New Zealander has replaced Sergio Perez and will drive alongside Verstappen this year.
Lawson impressed with RB in the final three months of last season, stepping in for Daniel Ricciardo after the Australian was axed in September.
But the bar has been raised this year following his promotion, with Red Bull seeking to reclaim the Constructors’ Championship from McLaren.
Perez floundered when attempting to win points consistently and the Mexican paid the price after finishing more than 200 points behind third-placed Charles Leclerc.
Marko accepts that Lawson will have “rookie weekends” due to his inexperience but still demands that he backs up Verstappen with regular points-scoring performances.
“Obviously Kimi (Antonelli) is a rookie and Liam is, let’s say, inexperienced rather than a rookie. They will inevitably both have a couple of ‘rookie weekends’,” Marko said.
“I think from a constructors’ point of view it will probably be more challenging for them to excel over all 24 races. [But] he should be a constant point collector and help Max (Verstappen) when necessary – not just try to do so.”
Lawson secured four points for Red Bull’s sister team last season. He beat Yuki Tsunoda to a place alongside Verstappen for the 2025 campaign.
The eccentric 23-year-old, who was involved in spats with Perez and Fernando Alonso in 2024, understands that the expectations have been raised ahead of the new season.
However, he would not divulge how he feels about playing second-fiddle to the four-time reigning world champion Verstappen.
“The team's goal is to win the Constructors’ and obviously they weren't able to do that last year and that's the clear goal going into this year," Lawson said at the F1 75 launch this week.
“Obviously we're doing the best job we can to make the car as fast as possible. And for me if we're in a position that we're fighting for winning the Constructors then I'm doing my job.
“So I think that's really where the team's goal for me and their expectation for me is at, outside of obviously my goals in Formula One.”
Teams will begin testing ahead of the 2025 Formula One season in Bahrain next week. The first race weekend sees drivers head Down Under to the Australian Grand Prix on March 16.
