Red Bull: Max Verstappen confirms discontent at Liam Lawson-Yuki Tsunoda swap from Japanese GP
Max Verstappen has confirmed his decision to ‘like’ a social media post that criticised Red Bull’s decision to swap Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda was “not a mistake”.
Verstappen’s official Instagram account ‘liked’ a post from former Dutch F1 driver Giedo van der Garde just hours after Red Bull confirmed Lawson would return to Racing Bulls and Tsunoda was promoted to the main team from this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Lawson spent just two races at Red Bull and told Sky Sports F1 he was “shocked” by the decision.
“I liked the comment, the text, so I guess that speaks for itself, right? It was not a mistake,” revealed Verstappen in Suzuka.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko also stated the reigning F1 world champion thinks the team “replaced Lawson too early” but “understands the decision”.
Having tested the Red Bull on the simulator, Yuki Tsunoda acknowledged the ‘instability’ of the car but is nonetheless excited to be making his debut for the team at his home race in Japan
Verstappen, who trails Lando Norris by eight points in the Drivers’ Championship, refused to elaborate on his opinion on the swap to the media.
“My reaction was shared with the team but in general, about not only the swap, but about everything. We discussed that already during last weekend and back at the factory,” he said.
“Everything has been shared with the team, how I think about everything. Sometimes it’s not necessary to always share everything in public. I think it’s better.
Liam Lawson admitted he was not anticipating being demoted from Red Bull but is determined to seize his chance with junior team Racing Bulls at the Japanese Grand Prix
“I have discussed everything with the team so the team knows how I think about everything and I think that’s enough to be honest.”
Asked by Sky Sports F1 whether he had talked to Lawson, Verstappen added: “I’ve discussed everything with the team, I’ve spoken to Liam and that’s all I can say about it.”
Verstappen: Red Bull is more nervous than other cars
Verstappen’s unique driving style of wanting a strong front end to rotate the car means the rear can be unstable, which is an area his previous team-mates, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez and, most recently, Lawson, have struggled with.
He thinks it is “not easy to find a middle ground” and brought up the amount of races Lawson had started in F1.
Christian Horner admitted they asked ‘too much’ of Liam Lawson ‘too soon’, which saw the Kiwi driver swapped from Red Bull to Racing Bulls after just two races
“People always say that Liam did 11 races or something in total, but over a different period of time,” Verstappen said.
“For a rookie, at the beginning of the season, with the calendar nowadays, and F1 is very tough, most of the tracks they have not driven on, or immediately, have a Sprint weekend, so all these scenarios, they don’t help.
“From my side, it’s very difficult to say how difficult or how well the car drives because I’ve not really driven any other car in my career or been with another team. I just adapt to the situation that I’m in the best that I can.”
Bernie Collins and Ted Kravitz give their reaction to Liam Lawson being demoted from Red Bull to the junior team Racing Bulls. You can listen to the latest The F1 Show podcast now
The Red Bull is understood to be more difficult to drive compared to other cars, including the Racing Bulls, after competitive performances from Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar.
Verstappen says the second Red Bull team, Racing Bulls, which was close to him in Australia and China on raw pace in qualifying, have “done a very good job” with their car but in the race it’s a “different story”.
“From what I see out there, it [the Red Bull] is a little bit more nervous, a little bit more, I would say, unstable in different corner phases than maybe some other of my team-mates have been used to it before,” he added.
Isack Hadjar was adamant he would move from junior team Racing Bulls to Red Bull if he was presented with the opportunity in the future
Verstappen insists car is the bigger issue
Verstappen has maximised his results so far this year with a second place in Melbourne, third in the Shanghai Sprint and fourth in the main Chinese Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old, who is looking to equal Michael Schumacher’s record of five consecutive drivers’ titles, reiterated Red Bull are “trying their very best” to close the gap to pace-setters McLaren.
David Croft believes Liam Lawson should have been given more time in the Red Bull seat but thinks he will benefit from taking a step back with Racing Bulls
“I think our main issue is that our car is not where we want it to be,” said Verstappen.
“I think everyone knows that within the team as well and that’s what I focus on, to be honest, because as soon as the car is more competitive and more drivable in general, then I think even in the other car it will come to you anyway a bit more naturally.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Japanese GP schedule
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Japanese Grand Prix
Friday April 4
- 3am: Japanese GP Practice One (session starts at 3.30am)*
- 5.30am: Team Principals’ Press Conference
- 6.45am: Japanese GP Practice Two (session starts at 7am)*
- 8.15am: The F1 Show*
Saturday April 5
- 3.15am: Japanese GP Practice Three (session starts at 3.30am)*
- 6am: Japanese GP Qualifying build-up*
- 7am: Japanese GP Qualifying*
- 9am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday April 6
- 4.30am: Japanese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 6am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX*
- 8am: Japanese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
- 9am: Ted’s Notebook*
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula is at the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW -nNo contract, cancel anytime
