With Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen getting his third team mate in four F1 races, it not surprising that the Dutchman seems to disagree with the team’s decision. According to De Telegraaf and GPBlog, Verstappen disapproves of Red Bull management swapping Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda.
The second-seat curse
Verstappen’s team mate through his four world championship campaigns, Sergio Pérez, had to make way after his performance did not improve. Although he repeatedly addressed the RB20’s drivability issues, he himself was deemed the cause of Red Bull’s second driver not performing. So he was replaced by Liam Lawson.
The Kiwi made some impression by stepping in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo in 2023. He then, permanently took over that same seat during last year. His performance was deemed enough to warrant a seat next to Verstappen. At least, more than it warranted a promotion for Tsunoda, as the Japanese driver was not held in high regard.
But Lawson’s struggles with the RB21 prove to be too much already for the impatient Red Bull management. As a result, swapping him with Yuki Tsunoda is inevitable. The Racing Bulls driver will take over from the Japanese GP onwards.
No veto for Verstappen
Max Verstappen apparently laments the decision by Red Bull Racing. De Telegraaf reports that Verstappen opposes the decision to demote Liam Lawson to Racing Bulls. Instead, the team should focus on improving the RB21, as it is unable to compete at the front on pure pace.
GPBlog even reports that they’ve understood that Verstappen pleaded for Lawson to stay. Clearly that appeal has fallen on deaf ears with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
If anything, the reported situation makes clear that Verstappen’s grip on Red Bull Racing’s policy is not as strong as some have suggested.
Red Bull Racing’s decline
The expected swap between Lawson and Tsunoda is the next chapter in Red Bull’s internal struggles. After the cost cap breach, Dietrich Mateschitz’s passing and subsequent power struggle, and Christian Horner’s transgressive behaviour accusations, this is yet another dent in Red Bull’s image.
And it is yet another possible reason for Max Verstappen to leave Red Bull Racing behind. Rumours of the four-time world champion leaving are circulating for a while now. Among the candidates are Mercedes and Aston Martin, with the latter offering a rumoured $1 billion.
How everything plays out remains to be seen, but it is clear that Red Bull is currently far from a stable environment. Regardless of whether you are a four-time world champion or a full-time rookie.
