For some, Red Bull’s behavior is “bullying.” And Verstappen’s ‘like’ appears. The recent Yuki Tsunoda - Liam Lawson reshuffle at Red Bull has sparked several controversies.

It has become a constant. At least once a year, one of the teams in the Red Bull family faces reshuffles imposed by Helmut Marko, with the Liam Lawson – Yuki Tsunoda swap being the latest in a long series of episodes, often involving Max Verstappen’s teammate.

The decision, made after just two races into the season, surprised the entire paddock. After all the praise he received during the winter, Liam Lawson didn’t have enough time to adapt to a car described as “not easy” by Helmut Marko himself.

The New Zealand driver had been one of the most pleasant surprises of the second half of last season when he was called to replace Daniel Ricciardo. With strong performances, he had earned the seat alongside Max Verstappen, with Horner preferring him over the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda. Three months and two races later, the situation has completely reversed. The Japanese driver will leave a very convincing VCARB for a tricky-to-handle RB21. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson will have the chance to regain the peace of mind lost in the start of 2025, showing the talent everyone recognizes in him.

The controversies
However, Red Bull’s decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda has led to several controversies. One of them was raised by former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde on his Instagram profile. “I’m getting tired of all the comments about how Formula 1 is a tough sport and how you have to pay the consequences when you don’t perform at the right level.”

“Of course, you need to deliver results. Of course, the pressure is high. But as far as I’m concerned, we’re living through something very similar to bullying. They made a decision and then gave Lawson only two races to prove himself. We shouldn’t forget the dedication and hard work Liam has put into his career so far. I remember all the efforts I had to make to get into F1. Sure, in the first two races, he wasn’t at the level of a top team like Red Bull, and he’s the first to admit it. Maybe he himself suggested this swap, but if not, I wish Liam all the best to redeem himself in Japan. Believe in yourself, keep your head up, and show them they were wrong,” van der Garde wrote on his profile.

What surprised attentive fans was the like from Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly. In fact, in recent days, rumors had circulated about the Dutch driver’s dissatisfaction with the possible early reshuffle at Red Bull. In today’s world, where social media plays a central role, even a ‘like’ can carry a very strong message.