Max Verstappen has expressed his disagreement with Red Bull Racing‘s rapid decision to replace Liam Lawson after just two rounds of the 2025 Formula 1 season, arguing the New Zealand driver deserved more time to prove himself at the front-running team. The four-time world champion’s comments shed light on the internal tensions surrounding Red Bull’s ongoing struggle to find a consistent second driver capable of supporting their championship ambitions.
Two races deemed insufficient for fair evaluation
The decision to promote Lawson from Racing Bulls and then demote him within weeks stands as one of the shortest tenures in recent F1 history. Lawson arrived at Red Bull Racing with momentum from a promising stint at the junior team, but his debut weekend in Melbourne proved disastrous. A Q1 elimination was followed by a race-ending crash, setting a tone that continued into Shanghai where the 23-year-old qualified last for both sprint and grand prix formats before failing to score.
Verstappen made his position clear when discussing the situation. “Two races for a team-mate, of course I didn’t agree with that at the time,” the Dutchman told media. “Because ultimately, someone is giving up their chance…yes, then you’re ruining [that chance] at a top team.” His words carried weight given his experience with five different team-mates since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018.
Tsunoda’s promotion fails to solve underlying issues
Red Bull’s solution was to elevate Yuki Tsunoda from Racing Bulls, hoping the Japanese driver’s experience and speed would translate into consistent point-scoring. Instead, the move highlighted the depth of Red Bull’s second seat problem. Tsunoda managed only 30 points across 22 races, finishing a lowly 17th in the drivers’ standings while Verstappen secured runner-up honours behind McLaren’s title winner Lando Norris.
The pattern has repeated itself across multiple seasons and multiple drivers. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Pérez, Lawson, and now Tsunoda have all struggled to match Verstappen’s benchmark, a factor that directly contributed to Red Bull losing constructor championships in both 2021 and 2024 despite Verstappen claiming driver titles. This year saw the Austrian team slip to third behind McLaren and Mercedes, a stark illustration of how a weak second driver undermines team performance.
McLaren’s equal driver approach proves successful
The contrast with McLaren’s philosophy could not be starker. The Woking team secured back-to-back constructors’ titles by treating Norris and Oscar Piastri as equals, even when both drivers found themselves battling for the 2025 championship. The approach maximised points collection and demonstrated an alternative model to Red Bull’s clear hierarchy.
Yet Verstappen remains unconvinced that McLaren’s method suits every team structure. “If I were the team boss myself, I would always put a clear number one and two in place,” the 28-year-old stated. “But of course, a number two who still scores enough points to compete for the constructors’ title. But a clear number one and two.” His comments reveal a belief that the hierarchical system works in principle but requires better execution, specifically through finding a driver capable of consistently finishing in the points while accepting secondary status.
Hope for stability with Hadjar arrives in 2026
Verstappen sees potential improvement with Isack Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull Racing for 2026. The 21-year-old French driver impressed during his rookie season at Racing Bulls, including a podium finish at Zandvoort that demonstrated his ability to extract performance under pressure. The timing of his arrival coincides with F1’s new technical regulations, creating what Verstappen views as a more level playing field.
“Yes, that’s very different, of course. Also a new car, new regulations, so in that respect, I think it’s the right time to step in,” Verstappen explained when asked about Hadjar’s upcoming role. The regulatory reset could reduce the experience advantage that has allowed Verstappen to dominate his team-mates, potentially giving Hadjar a better opportunity to establish himself without the immediate comparison to years of accumulated data and setup knowledge.
What this means going forward
Red Bull’s second driver situation remains the team’s most pressing weakness heading into the new regulatory era. The rapid cycling through drivers creates instability and prevents the team from maximising constructor points, a problem that has now cost them multiple titles. Verstappen’s public disagreement with the Lawson decision signals potential friction between driver and management over strategic decisions, though his commitment to the team remains evident through his support for clear hierarchies. The 2026 season with Hadjar partnering Verstappen represents another opportunity for Red Bull to finally solve its long-standing problem, with the new regulations offering a genuine reset point. Whether the team has learned from its pattern of premature judgments on drivers will define its ability to challenge for both championships in the coming years.
