Jos Verstappen to Lawson: Don't make the big mistake I made

Thursday, 09 January 2025 at 08:30

formel 1 jos verstappen michael schumacher 01

As Red Bull Racing enters the 2025 Formula 1 season with a reshaped driver line-up, Jos Verstappen has offered candid advice to Liam Lawson, who steps in as his son Max Verstappen’s teammate following Sergio Perez’s departure.

Drawing on his own experiences, Jos warned the young New Zealander not to fall into the trap he encountered during his rookie season at Benetton alongside Michael Schumacher.

Speaking to F1-Insider, Verstappen senior said: “My advice is that he should not make the mistake I made at Benetton in 1994: try to keep up with Max at all costs. Lawson should do his own thing. Hopefully, he has a similar driving style to Max. Then they can improve the car together.”

Reflecting on his debut season in Formula 1, Jos admitted the challenges of being paired with Schumacher, who clinched his first World Championship that year. Despite achieving two podium finishes, Jos struggled to match Schumacher’s performance in the Benetton B194.

He also noted that the second seat at Benetton rotated between three drivers that season—himself, JJ Lehto, and Johnny Herbert—highlighting the intense pressure he faced.

Lawson’s Opportunity and Mindset

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - MARCH 09: Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the Paddock prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 09, 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202403090126 // Usage for editorial use only //

Liam Lawson, who impressed during his substitute appearances in 2024, has expressed confidence in his abilities as he steps into the highly competitive Red Bull environment. While acknowledging the challenge of partnering a four-time World Champion, Lawson remains unfazed.

“I don’t expect to go in and beat Max,” Lawson said upon his signing. “But of course, I have confidence in my qualities; that’s what got me to this point. If you think someone is better than you, or that someone has the upper hand, or that you’re not good enough, then you might as well not show up. As drivers, we have to have that mentality.”

The advice from Jos underlines the fine line Lawson must navigate: respecting Max Verstappen’s dominance while carving out his own identity within the team. Red Bull will hope that Lawson can avoid the pitfalls of internal competition that have plagued other high-profile teammate pairings in the past.

As the Formula 1 season opener in Melbourne approaches, all eyes will be on Lawson to see how he handles the challenge of racing alongside one of the sport’s most formidable competitors. Jos' advice might come in handy for the 22-year-old Kiwi.