F1 | Verstappen criticizes Red Bull decision on Lawson: “Two races. I didn’t agree”
Max Verstappen has spoken out about Red Bull’s decision to replace Liam Lawson after just two Grand Prix in the 2025 season, stating that he “did not agree” with the move. According to the Dutch driver, such a decision was somewhat unfair and hindered Lawson’s opportunity to be part of a top team.
After two disastrous races at the start of the year, Lawson was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, who held the second Red Bull seat for the rest of the season. Even Yuki Tsunoda faced significant challenges just to score points, while the New Zealander bounced back impressively in Racing Bulls.
For 2026, the second seat at the Austrian team has been taken by rookie Isack Hadjar, promoted after an impressive debut season with the junior team. Despite this, the four-time world champion remains critical of Red Bull’s decision, using Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles as an example to illustrate that it was not an easy season.
Verstappen disagrees with Red Bull
While Verstappen does not mind which driver sits alongside him, he believes Liam Lawson was treated unfairly and disagrees with Red Bull’s choice. “Two races, obviously, for a teammate… At the time, I didn’t agree, because in the end you end up ruining someone’s chance to join a top team,” the Dutchman said in a year-end interview with Viaplay.
Despite all the initial difficulties, Liam Lawson recovered well over the season with Racing Bulls. He finished the year 14th in the drivers’ standings, scoring 38 points and just two positions behind his teammate.
Ultimately, Max Verstappen’s comments shed light on the internal friction regarding Red Bull’s cutthroat driver development program. By speaking out in defense of Lawson, Max highlights the fine line between the search for immediate results and the long-term career stability of young talents within the paddock.
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