Max Verstappen has expressed his dissatisfaction with the way Red Bull handled the departure of driver Liam Lawson after just two races, replacing him with Yuki Tsunoda. The abrupt decision to drop Lawson after his underperformance in the two races surprised many, even by the usual standards of Formula 1. Former driver Giedo van der Garde criticized Red Bull’s treatment of Lawson, calling it “closer to bullying or a panic move,” which Verstappen publicly agreed with by liking Van der Garde’s Instagram post.
Verstappen was open about his disagreement with the move, making it clear that he shared his thoughts with the team internally. “My reaction was shared with the team,” Verstappen stated. “But in general, about not only the swap; about everything. We discussed that during last weekend back at the factory.” However, he chose not to elaborate further, hinting that some discussions are better kept behind closed doors. His comments reflect an ongoing dissatisfaction with Red Bull’s approach, not only in terms of their driver decisions but also regarding the car’s performance and balance.
Lewis Hamilton also weighed in on the decision, acknowledging that he wasn’t entirely surprised by Red Bull’s actions but still found it “pretty harsh” to drop Lawson so quickly. Despite the criticism, Red Bull insisted that the decision was well thought out, with team management, corporate owners in Austria, and motorsport adviser Helmut Marko all agreeing on the move. Marko, who oversees the development of Red Bull’s young drivers, had previously supported Lawson over Tsunoda after Sergio Pérez was let go, making the switch even more unexpected.
The rapid decision to replace Lawson with Tsunoda has sparked questions about internal communication and the decision-making process at Red Bull. Tsunoda, who was passed over at the end of last season in favor of Lawson, found the situation unusual, noting that Marko had not contacted him since he was promoted. “Surprisingly, he didn’t call me yet, very unusual,” Tsunoda remarked. He added that despite this, he still maintains a good relationship with Marko and the team, indicating that his concerns were not personal but rather based on a change in protocol.
Tsunoda’s promotion to Red Bull represents a significant shift in the team’s approach. Despite the tension surrounding the change, Tsunoda is approaching his debut with a calm mindset. The 24-year-old has experience with Red Bull’s sister team, Racing Bulls, and Alpha Tauri, which he joined in 2021. He expressed confidence that he would be given time to adapt to his new role. “I didn’t get any specific races or time that I have to prove myself,” Tsunoda explained. “Pressure will always come once you hit the track. For now, really relaxing somehow, it feels similar to when I was at Racing Bulls.”
Although the Red Bull car is facing performance challenges, particularly with balance and stability, Tsunoda has been told to work closely with Verstappen, who is currently one of the most dominant drivers in Formula 1. Verstappen’s focus remains on improving the car’s drivability, acknowledging that there are ongoing issues with its performance. “We are focusing on making the car more drivable,” Verstappen said. “I don’t think we are there yet, but we are working on it.” For now, Tsunoda’s role seems clear: support Verstappen as much as possible and help the team in any way he can, understanding that the team’s primary focus is on Verstappen’s championship ambitions.
Tsunoda’s calm approach and willingness to integrate into the team will be tested as the season progresses, particularly with the pressures of racing in his home country of Japan. However, his relaxed attitude may serve him well as he adapts to the new environment, while also trying to help Red Bull address the performance issues plaguing their car.
