Max Verstappen has publicly addressed the recent seat swap between Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda after just two races of the new Formula 1 season. He confirmed that his decision to ‘like’ a social media post criticizing Red Bull’s choice to change drivers was intentional and not an oversight.
Shortly after Red Bull made the announcement that Lawson would be returning to the Racing Bulls team while Tsunoda was elevated to the main Red Bull team for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen’s official Instagram account showed support for this criticism by liking a post from former Dutch F1 driver Giedo van der Garde.
Lawson, who was only in the Red Bull seat for two races, expressed his surprise at this swift decision during an interview with Sky Sports F1. Verstappen weighed in on the matter, indicating that his like on the comment spoke volumes about his stance. “It was not a mistake,” he stated while at Suzuka.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko added that the reigning world champion, Verstappen, believes the team may have acted prematurely in replacing Lawson, although he respects the final decision made by the team. While Verstappen declined to provide further details on his thoughts regarding the seat swap, he admitted to having shared his views with the team. “My reaction was shared with the team, and in general, it includes more than just this swap. We discussed this during the previous weekend and also back at our factory,” he explained.
He emphasized the importance of keeping some discussions private, asserting that not every opinion needs to be aired publicly for it to have value. Verstappen confirmed he has been in touch with Lawson but maintained that he would keep specifics about their conversation confidential.
Verstappen’s own driving style, characterized by a strong preference for a responsive front end to facilitate car rotation, has resulted in difficulties for his previous teammates, including Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, and more recently Lawson. He acknowledged the challenges faced by rookies, commenting on the rigorous nature of Formula 1 and the limited experience that some drivers, such as Lawson, have when starting their careers. “It’s tough for a rookie, especially at the beginning of the season. With today’s calendar, missing prior track experience and having Sprint weekends adds complexity to their situation,” he noted.
Discussing the performance dynamics he has witnessed, Verstappen suggested that the second Red Bull team, Racing Bulls, has impressively improved their car, particularly in qualifying, while noting that racing scenarios can present different challenges altogether. “While it might seem easier on paper, actual race conditions can be quite different,” he remarked.
So far this season, Verstappen has demonstrated his ability to maximize race results, securing a second-place finish in Melbourne, a third in the Shanghai Sprint, and a fourth in the main Chinese Grand Prix. As he aims to match Michael Schumacher’s unprecedented record of five consecutive World Championships, Verstappen conveyed that the focus remains on improving the car’s performance. “Our car isn’t where we want it to be,” he expressed candidly. “Everyone within the team is aware of it, and that’s where I concentrate my efforts. Once we can make the car more competitive and easier to handle, I believe that results will naturally follow for both me and my teammate.”
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