MAX VERSTAPPEN SLAMS RED BULL: LAWSON’S TWO-RACE AXING “RUINED” HIS TOP-TIER CAREER PATH
Max Verstappen critiques Red Bull’s cutthroat driver strategy, claiming Liam Lawson never got a fair shot at the top team seat.
Max Verstappen thinks Liam Lawson didn't get a fair shot at Red Bull. Getting dropped after only two race weekends could mess up a driver's whole career, he says.
Verstappen thinks kicking Lawson off the team ruins a driver's chances.
Lawson got the Red Bull seat for the 2025 season, picked over Yuki Tsunoda. Christian Horner, who used to head up Red Bull, said that the team felt Lawson had more potential, which is why they went with him.
But after only a few races, Lawson was sent back to Racing Bulls because he didn't get out of Q1 in three tries.
Verstappen made his feelings known when he liked a post on Instagram by Giedo van der Garde, a former F1 driver, who said Red Bull's choice was almost like bullying.
When asked about it in Japan, Verstappen said, I liked what the comment said, so I guess that says it all.
Helmut Marko, who used to advise Red Bull on motorsports, admitted that Verstappen didn't agree with Red Bull's choice.
Marko told De Telegraaf, We know Max isn't happy. But we need two fast cars, not just for the Constructors' Championship, but also to help Max win his fifth title.
But switching Lawson out for Tsunoda didn't help Red Bull's results. The Japanese driver only scored 30 points in 22 race weekends, which is way less than Verstappen's 421.
Lawson took a few races to get used to Racing Bulls, but he did well and scored 38 points. He even finished P5 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, beating Tsunoda.
Even though Lawson bounced back, Verstappen still isn't happy with Red Bull's choice.
Verstappen told Viaplay, I didn't think it was right to only give him two races. You end up wrecking someone's chances with a top team.
He added, I think Lawson has done well to recover. He could have easily thought, 'Forget it, this isn't fun anymore.'
Either way, two races isn't enough time to judge someone, he said.
Lawson will stay with Racing Bulls next season. Verstappen will get another teammate at Red Bull since Isack Hadjar is being promoted. Tsunoda will be Red Bull's reserve driver.
When asked why his teammates, especially Tsunoda, can't keep up with him, Verstappen says it's because of the car's setup and how he feels in the car.
Verstappen said, They try to copy my setup. But every driver has their own style. After a while, you start to get on the same page, especially in the second half of the season. We usually had the same ideas, but I liked a little more understeer than Yuki.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
