Red Bull's Lawson Demotion: Verstappen Weighs In

Max Verstappen has expressed his support for Liam Lawson after the New Zealander's surprise demotion from Red Bull's Formula 1 team.

Liam Lawson has expressed surprise at being demoted by the Red Bull team after just two races into the new season. Despite having limited experience, with only 11 races as a stand-in under his belt, Lawson was initially appointed as world champion Max Verstappen's teammate for this season.

However, in a sudden move, Lawson was demoted back to the junior Racing Bulls team and replaced by Yuki Tsunoda. Despite this setback, Lawson remains determined to make his mark in Formula 1. He is focused on using this opportunity to continue developing his skills and proving himself with the Racing Bulls team.

Max Verstappen, the world champion and Lawson's former teammate, has been critical of the decision to demote Lawson. Verstappen's comments suggest that he believes Lawson deserved more time to prove himself at the top level. The sudden change has raised questions about the team's decision-making process and the level of support provided to young drivers like Lawson.

Liam Lawson has revealed that he was caught off guard by Red Bull's decision to demote him after just two races. Despite struggling in Australia and China, Lawson had expected to continue racing with the team in Japan. However, he received a phone call informing him that he would be replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.

Lawson shared his surprise at the sudden decision, stating, “I had a phone call, basically saying that this was what was going to happen... It was something I wasn't expecting so early.” Despite the setback, Lawson is determined to make the most of his opportunity with the junior Racing Bulls team. He acknowledged that the decision was not his to make, but he is focused on staying in Formula 1.

Lawson had been looking forward to racing at Suzuka, a track he knows well from his time in Japan's Super Formula championship. He expressed his disappointment at not being able to compete with Red Bull at Suzuka, but is now excited to have the opportunity to drive for the Racing Bulls team at a track he enjoys. “That was something I was obviously looking forward to from the start, to be honest, to go to a track that I've been to before... Just have a proper sort of preparation, and I now have that. So it's exciting to be here at a track that's one of my favourite tracks to drive on. So yeah, I'm very excited.”

Max 🤝 Yuki

Tsunoda becomes Verstappen's sixth Red Bull team mate#F1 pic.twitter.com/83esKIm4cb

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 27, 2025

Max Verstappen has expressed his support for Liam Lawson, who was recently demoted by Red Bull. Verstappen revealed that he had liked a social media post criticizing the decision as “panicky,” stating, “it was not a mistake.” He clarified that his reaction was shared with the team, and while he acknowledged that not everything needs to be shared publicly, his sentiments were clear.

Lawson has spoken about the possibility of returning to Red Bull in the future, stating that it was “part of the conversation” when he received the news of his demotion. However, he also expressed a sense of pragmatism, saying, “I guess, in a way, that's great, but obviously I was already there starting the season.” Lawson is focused on controlling what he can, which is his driving, and is not worrying too much about the future. “So where the future goes, honestly, at this point I'm not really thinking about too much,” he said.

Lawson is also drawing inspiration from his own experiences in Formula 1, where fortunes can change quickly. He reflected on how far he has come in just a year, saying, “If I look back a year ago, I had no seat. I was here a year ago, watching and wishing I was racing.” For Lawson, the most important thing is being in a car and competing. “So for me, the main thing is being in a car,” he emphasized.