Max Verstappen unhappy with Red Bull's decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Max Verstappen, Red Bull's star driver, is reportedly dissatisfied with the team's recent decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda, as confirmed by Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko. Verstappen's discontent surfaced soon after the swap was announced on Thursday, evident by his Instagram activity where he liked a critical post by former racer Geido van der Garde.

Van der Garde's post equated Lawson's treatment to "bullying" and criticized Red Bull's swift decision to drop Lawson after just two races. Lawson's replacement, Tsunoda, was brought in after 89 races with the junior team, sparking further controversy regarding the abrupt change.

Marko acknowledged Verstappen's frustration, stating, "We know Max is not happy. But we need two cars at the front. Not only for the constructors' championship, but also to help Max get his fifth world title." Verstappen has previously defended Lawson's performances, emphasizing that the Racing Bulls car, driven impressively by Tsunoda, is easier to handle compared to the Red Bull RB21.

Red Bull justified their decision by highlighting Tsunoda's experience, which they believe will aid in troubleshooting the car. They did not feel Lawson was in the right place to fulfill that role. Marko elaborated on this rationale during an interview with oe24, explaining the initial choice for Lawson and the subsequent shift to Tsunoda.

"Yuki was too inconsistent," Marko explained regarding Red Bull's initial decision to favor Lawson. "That's why we unanimously decided in favor of Lawson. But he wasn't able to perform under the greater pressure, right from the first day in Australia. Then he went into a downward spiral. It's like a battered boxer, it's very difficult to get out of it. From that point of view, it was a mistake [to put Lawson in the Red Bull]."

Marko further added, "In Australia, he had a turbo failure in the third practice session, losing mileage as a result. But of course, what he has done so far has not been enough. We need a strong second driver, if only for the team strategy."

The decision continues to stir debate within the motorsport community, particularly among those who feel that Lawson was not given a fair opportunity to prove his capabilities in the highly competitive environment of Formula 1.

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