Max Verstappen supports critique of Red Bull's decision to drop Liam Lawson

Dominika Jordan
Mar 28, 2025, 04:48 AM ET

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Red Bull's Max Verstappen has shown his support for a controversial Instagram post by former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, which criticized the team's decision to demote Liam Lawson just two rounds into the season. The Dutch driver liked Van der Garde’s post, which accused Red Bull of "bullying" Lawson by dropping him back to the Racing Bulls sister outfit in favor of Yuki Tsunoda.

Van der Garde, who competed in 19 races for Caterham in 2013, did not hold back in his criticism. "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," he said.

"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 into his career so far to achieve the level where he is now... Yes, he underperformed in the first two races -- but if anyone's aware of that, it's himself."

The post concluded with words of encouragement for Lawson: "Trust yourself, get your head up, prove them wrong."

Among those who liked the post were Verstappen’s Instagram account and former Red Bull driver Pierre Gasly, who experienced a similar demotion in 2019. Dutch media have suggested that Verstappen is privately displeased with the decision to replace Lawson, though he has not commented on the matter publicly.

Lawson's demotion sets the stage for the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, where Verstappen will be paired with his third teammate in just four races. As the racing world watches closely, this latest development adds another layer of intrigue to Red Bull’s already dramatic season.