Max Verstappen: “I Didn’t Agree With Lawson’s Demotion—It Was a Waste”

Speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen called the replacement of Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races a “waste of someone’s chance in a top team.” His remarks highlight a ruthless culture at Red Bull, where promising talent is often discarded before having a chance to adapt.

The Lawson Saga: “Two Races Was Not Enough”

Liam Lawson’s Red Bull dream lasted just 43 days. Promoted to replace Sergio Pérez for 2025, the New Zealander was demoted back to Racing Bulls after the Australian and Chinese Grands Prix. While he scored zero points in the notoriously difficult RB21 during that stint, Verstappen argues the sample size was insultingly small.

“Two races is far too early to make a decision. In the end, Yuki got in, and that shows how difficult it was.”
— Max Verstappen

The Numbers: Lawson vs. Tsunoda

Verstappen’s frustration is backed by the statistics. Following Lawson’s demotion, his replacement, Yuki Tsunoda, struggled to extract performance from the car, while Lawson thrived upon his return to the junior team.

The « Verstappen Effect »

Verstappen’s criticism reflects a pattern: since 2018, five different teammates have failed to match him. The RB21 is notoriously sensitive to setup changes. « They try to use my setup, but every driver has their own style, » Verstappen explained. Tsunoda preferred understeer, while Lawson struggled with a « nervous » rear end, yet neither was given time to engineer the car to their liking.

The Aftermath

The saga has had contrasting endings for the two drivers involved:

• Liam Lawson: Redeemed himself at Racing Bulls, outqualifying Tsunoda multiple times. He will lead Racing Bulls in 2026.
• Yuki Tsunoda: After five seasons and zero podiums, he has been dropped for 2026, replaced by rookie Isack Hadjar.

Verstappen’s broader message is a warning for F1’s future: “You grow together over time, but we didn’t give Liam that time.” As rookie Isack Hadjar prepares to step into the pressure cooker for 2026, the question remains whether Red Bull has learned from its impatience.