Max Verstappen has seemingly expressed disapproval over Red Bull’s decision to remove Liam Lawson as his teammate. Lawson, who partnered with Verstappen for the initial two races of the new Formula 1 season, failed to secure any points in Melbourne or Shanghai, leading the team to take action.
Following Lawson’s demotion to Racing Bulls, Yuki Tsunoda has been elevated to replace him promptly. This change means that Verstappen will have a new partner at the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix on April 6.
Although Verstappen shares a good personal relationship with Tsunoda, he has shown resistance to the move to drop Lawson, believing that Lawson deserved more time to adapt to the top team.
Verstappen subtly expressed his stance by endorsing a critical post on social media by former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, who lambasted Red Bull’s treatment of Lawson, describing it as detrimental to his morale and labeling the switch as a reactionary measure.
Van der Garde conveyed his discontent on Instagram, emphasizing the pressure in F1 but highlighting the decision as potentially bullying rather than a reflection of athletic performance.
Verstappen’s acknowledgment of Van der Garde’s post on social media suggests his alignment with the critique. Verstappen has yet to publicly address Red Bull’s decision but is expected to face inquiries during the media session before the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.
Both Tsunoda and Lawson will also engage with the media, while team principal Christian Horner will elaborate on the reasoning behind the team’s choice. Horner emphasized the need to support and nurture Lawson while leveraging Tsunoda’s expertise in enhancing the current car’s development.