Red Bull beware: this game of changing second drivers could end up tiring Max Verstappen. Max Verstappen has hinted that he did not appreciate Liam Lawson’s ousting from Red Bull.

Revolving doors
The big news in the Red Bull world is, of course, yet another change—this time the second mid-season switch since 2019—of Max Verstappen’s teammate. Liam Lawson is out after just two GPs, and Yuki Tsunoda is in, the same driver who had been rejected by Christian Horner and Helmut Marko just three months ago in favor of… Liam Lawson.

It is true that consistency is not necessarily considered a core value in F1, and that between the main and junior teams, Red Bull has accustomed us to changing drivers at the speed of an Olympic 100-meter final. However, this latest U-turn risks being the final straw.

What does Max think?
While Red Bull’s management continues its own version of *Squid Game* in search of a driver who can at least come close to Max Verstappen’s results, the Dutch champion himself seems unimpressed by this wild carousel of teammates. After Shanghai, car #1 of the Anglo-Austrian team was very clear, highlighting all the limitations of the RB21, calling it the fourth-best car on the grid, and emphasizing that the issue was not Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, or Yuki Tsunoda, but rather the car itself.

Even before Yuki Tsunoda’s promotion to Red Bull was announced, reports suggested that Verstappen was bewildered and unconvinced by the decision. After the move became official, the Dutchman subtly hinted at his opinion by liking a comment from his compatriot and former driver Giedo van der Garde, who was highly critical of Red Bull’s decision, going so far as to call it a form of “bullying.”

The last seat
It should not be forgotten that for Max Verstappen, stability and a calm environment are fundamental. The four-time Formula 1 world champion has repeatedly stated this, even last season, in the midst of the infamous ‘Horner case’ and beyond. He prefers to work in a serene setting, surrounded by trusted people—something Red Bull does not currently seem to be offering. If the RB21 does indeed improve and—miraculously— Yuki Tsunoda manages to adapt quickly, all will be fine.

But if that does not happen—and past situations suggest that this second scenario is more likely—it is not out of the question that Max Verstappen might genuinely grow tired of it all and start considering other offers. Suitors, from Mercedes to Aston Martin, are certainly not lacking. Red Bull must be careful: this endless game of musical chairs could end up leaving vacant the one seat that no one else is currently capable of filling—the #1.