Formula 1

Why Max Verstappen disagreed with Liam Lawson’s Red Bull F1 demotion

Lawson's Red Bull careers came to an end after just two grands prix, but this was a decision that Verstappen didn't agree with

Ed Hardy

Published: Dec 22, 2025, 9:22 AM

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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen disagreed with Red Bull’s decision to demote his former team-mate Liam Lawson just two rounds into the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Lawson replaced Sergio Perez at the Austrian outfit for this year after just 11 grands prix with sister squad Racing Bulls, but he failed to replicate the same form that earned the Kiwi a promotion.

The 23-year-old suffered a Q1 elimination on his debut in Melbourne where he then crashed out of the race, before failing to score points in Shanghai after qualifying last for both the sprint and the grand prix.

It prompted Red Bull to act quickly and replace Lawson with his former Racing Bulls stablemate Yuki Tsunoda, who became Verstappen’s fifth team-mate since Daniel Ricciardo left in 2018.

“Two races for a team-mate, of course I didn’t agree with that at the time,” Verstappen, who has won four world titles with Red Bull, told Viaplay.

“Because ultimately, someone is giving up their chance…yes, then you’re ruining [that chance] at a top team. I have to say that Liam has done well at Racing Bulls.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Liam Lawson, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“You could also say, ‘just leave it, I don’t care anymore’, but two races is far too early to make a decision. In the end, Yuki got in and that shows how difficult it was.”

Tsunoda performed just as terribly as Lawson though, only scoring 30 points across 22 rounds to finish 17th in the championship while Verstappen was runner-up to McLaren’s Lando Norris.

But Red Bull has long had second driver troubles since Ricciardo’s shock exit, because Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Perez, Lawson and Tsunoda have all failed to match their supremely talented team-mate.

It’s partly why Red Bull failed to win the constructors’ title in 2021 and 2024 when Verstappen became drivers’ champion and why it slipped to third in this year’s standings behind McLaren and Mercedes.

McLaren, who took back-to-back crowns, also has the opposite mindset to Red Bull because it gives equal treatment to Norris and Oscar Piastri, even when they fought for the 2025 title.

Verstappen, however, still thinks Red Bull has the correct approach, but that it needs to be better executed with a strong second driver.

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Guido De Bortoli / LAT Images via Getty Images

“If I were the team boss myself, I would always put a clear number one and two in place,” added the 28-year-old.

“But of course, a number two who still scores enough points to compete for the constructors’ title. But a clear number one and two.”

The Dutchman does have hope 2026 will bring a better situation when Isack Hadjar becomes his team-mate, after a strong rookie campaign for Racing Bulls which included a Zandvoort podium.

When asked about the 21-year-old coming in at the start of the new rules cycle, Verstappen said: “Yes, that’s very different, of course. Also a new car, new regulations, so in that respect, I think it’s the right time to step in.”

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