Lawson bullied at Red Bull? Verstappen disapproves of demotion
F1 NewsThursday, 27 March 2025 at 18:16
Max Verstappen has 'liked' an Instagram post by a former Formula 1 driver criticizing Red Bull for dropping New Zealander Liam Lawson just two rounds into the season amid accusations that the Kiwi was bullied during his brief time with the 'Senior' team.
Lawson's demotion back to the Racing Bulls sister outfit, in a straight swap with Yuki Tsunoda promoted to Red Bull, means Verstappen will have his third teammate in four races when the 2025 F1 World Championship resumes in Japan next week.
Verstappen's Dutch compatriot Van der Garde, who raced 19 times for now-defunct Caterham in 2013, said he was "getting a bit tired of" the narrative of having to deliver under pressure or face the consequences.
He said: "Yes, you gotta perform. Yes, the pressure is insane. But in my opinion this comes closer to bullying or a panic move than actual high athlete achievements' They made a decision -- fully aware -- gave Liam two races only to crush his spirit.
"Don't forget the dedication, hard work and success Liam has put in his career so far to achieve the level where he is now... yes, he underperformed the first two races. If anyone's aware of that it's himself," reckoned Van der Garde who urged Lawson to "trust yourself, get your head up, prove them wrong."
Those who liked the post included Verstappen's Instagram account and that of former Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly, who also lost his place alongside the now-four times world champion in 2019.
Dutch media have reported that Verstappen, who has not commented directly, was unhappy with the decision to drop Lawson. Tsunoda will thus become Verstappen's third different teammate in four races.
Lawson, who started only two grands prix and a sprint with Red Bull before returning to sister team Racing Bulls, lasted 99 days -- the least time of anyone alongside the now four times Formula 1 world champion.
Verstappen's seven teammates (victims?) in Formula 1 to date
Carlos Sainz (2015-16, Toro Rosso)
Verstappen, then 16, and Sainz, aged 19, debuted together at the Red Bull sister team that is now Racing Bulls. The pair were evenly matched despite friction between them, with the Dutch rookie outscoring the Spaniard by 49 points to 18. Sainz went on to Renault, McLaren, Ferrari and now Williams.
Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull, 2016-18)
Verstappen was promoted to the senior team after four races of the season, with Russian Daniil Kvyat going in the opposite direction, and won on his Red Bull debut in Spain. Ricciardo ended the 2016 season ahead, on 256 points to Verstappen's 204. In 2017 the Australian again led his teammate in the standings but was well beaten in 2018.
Pierre Gasly (Red Bull, 2019)
Gasly moved up after Ricciardo jumped ship for Renault and lasted 12 increasingly fraught races before Red Bull swapped him out for Alex Albon from the Belgian GP with the Thai then impressing enough to get the seat for 2020. Gasly became a race winner for AlphaTauri in 2021 and joined Alpine in 2023.
Alex Albon (Red Bull, 2019-20)
Albon completed the 2020 season with fewer than half the points (105) Verstappen scored (214). Red Bull demoted him to test and reserve driver for 2021 and gave the seat to experienced Mexican Sergio Perez, who had appeared to be on his way out of F1. Albon returned as a Williams driver in 2022.
Sergio Perez (Red Bull, 2021-2024)
Perez won five races in his time at Red Bull and secured a best ever runner-up slot to Verstappen in the championship in the team's dominant 2023 season, albeit with fewer than half the points scored by the Dutchman. His form collapsed in 2024 after a strong start to the year that secured a contract extension. He was replaced by Lawson at the end of the year.
Liam Lawson (Red Bull, 2025)
Two race weekends -- three races including a Saturday sprint -- and no points. He qualified 18th and failed to finish in Australia and qualified last for the sprint and race in China.
Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull, 2025)
Honda-backed Tsunoda finally got his chance with the top team after being passed over last year. He has been on strong form with Racing Bulls but now has to carry that over to Red Bull or face being the next in the ejector seat.
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