Red Bull announced on Thursday that Liam Lawson will be immediately replaced by Racing Bulls veteran Yuki Tsunoda. The New Zealander was only given two Grands Prix with the main team before the management decided to let him go. Admittedly, Lawson’s performance over the past three weeks has been subpar, but in this case, Red Bull’s top brass seems to be operating rather tactlessly, as evidenced by the reactions of several Formula 1 drivers, including Max Verstappen.
Former Formula 1 driver and analyst Giedo van der Garde was one of the first to stand up for Lawson. He posted an extensive message on his Instagram account on Thursday, a plea for Lawson in which he disapproved of Red Bull’s approach. “I’m getting a bit tired of all the commentary that Formula 1 is the toughest sport when it comes to performance and that if you underperform, you just have to face the consequences,” said Van der Garde. “Yes, you have to perform, and yes, the pressure is immense. But in my opinion, this is more akin to bullying or a panic reaction.”
Drivers Distance Themselves from Red Bull
Van der Garde’s post went quite viral within the motorsport world. It was liked by several Formula 1 drivers, including Max Verstappen. Multiple sources reported this week that the reigning champion disagreed with the decision to show Lawson the door so soon. In addition to Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hülkenberg have also liked the post, as have many other leading figures in motorsport. They seem to be clearly distancing themselves from Red Bull’s management style, which some experts believe does more harm than good to the careers of promising drivers.
With the ongoing turmoil within Red Bull and the barrage of criticism the team is facing, it’s uncertain how much longer Max Verstappen will want to continue driving for the Austrian team. It’s telling that he dares to openly ‘support’ criticism of his employer. In addition to the fact that he has rarely been able to rely on a stable teammate over the past few years, the RB21 also leaves much to be desired. This internal chaos may slowly be pushing him towards the exit, especially now that other top teams are lining up to sign him.
Several Formula 1 drivers, including Max Verstappen, seem to be distancing themselves from the way Red Bull is handling rookie Liam Lawson.
