Red Bull Ruthless Call: Lawson’s Demotion Sparks F1 Debate

Verstappen and Fellow Drivers React to Red Bull Decision

The Formula 1 world has been buzzing after Red Bull’s shock decision to demote Liam Lawson just two races into the season. The New Zealander, who had been promoted to the senior team in place of Yuki Tsunoda, now finds himself back with Racing Bulls after a tough start to 2025.

The move has sparked reactions from drivers, fans, and pundits alike, with even Max Verstappen weighing in. The three-time world champion, though careful with his words, made his stance clear with a social media like on a post criticizing the demotion.

Verstappen Backs Criticism of Red Bull’s Decision

Dutch F1 Veteran Giedo van der Garde’s Comments

Dutch former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, a close friend of the Verstappen family, took to Instagram to voice his displeasure over Red Bull’s handling of Lawson.

While Verstappen didn’t explicitly criticize the team, he made his views known.

“I liked the comment, the text, so I guess that speaks for itself, right?” he said when asked about the situation.

Verstappen admitted that while he had shared his opinions internally with Red Bull, he preferred not to air everything publicly.

“Sometimes it’s not necessary to always say everything in public. I think it’s better not to.”

His reserved response didn’t stop other drivers from taking a more outspoken stance. Oscar Piastri, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hulkenberg all liked van der Garde’s post, signaling their agreement.

Why Did Red Bull Drop Liam Lawson?

Why Did Red Bull Drop Liam Lawson?

A Dramatic U-Turn in Team Strategy

Red Bull’s decision was unexpected, especially considering their previous faith in Lawson. Last winter, the team had chosen him over Tsunoda, even paying off Sergio Perez’s contract two years early to make space for him.

However, after just two races, the team reversed course.

Lawson struggled in the opening rounds, qualifying 18th in Australia and last in both the sprint and main race in China. Red Bull felt he was in a downward spiral from which he would struggle to recover.

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton described the decision as “pretty harsh”, questioning whether Red Bull gave Lawson enough time to adapt.

Verstappen on Why Lawson Struggled

Swapped seats & shaky starts: What to know ahead of Japanese Grand Prix

Verstappen suggested that Red Bull’s challenging car characteristics played a role in Lawson’s difficulties.

“It’s hard because, for me, this is the only car that I know,” Verstappen explained.

“But from what I see, it is a little bit more nervous, a little bit more unstable in different corner phases compared to what some of my teammates have been used to before.”

Essentially, Lawson was thrown into an unpredictable car, and Red Bull wasn’t willing to wait for him to adjust.

Tsunoda Gets His Big Break at Home

“Best Situation Ever” for Japanese Driver

While Lawson faces disappointment, Yuki Tsunoda is stepping into his dream scenario—making his Red Bull debut at his home race, the Japanese Grand Prix.

“Really looking forward to it,” Tsunoda said. “Can’t be crazier than this—first race for Red Bull Racing, but on top of it, home grand prix.”

Tsunoda Understands Red Bull’s Brutal Approach

Tsunoda, who lost out to Lawson last year, acknowledged the cutthroat nature of Red Bull’s driver management.

“For me, it was brutal enough when they chose Liam over me at the end of last season,” he admitted.

Despite this, he remains confident that he can deliver results in the challenging Red Bull car.

“I felt the car in the simulator. I am sure it doesn’t fully correlate, but it didn’t feel crazy tricky,” he said, adding that he has big confidence in his ability to succeed.

“I’m not saying I have confidence to perform straight away like Max, but I have confidence I can do something different from other drivers who have been in that car.”

For Tsunoda, this is his golden opportunity to prove he belongs at Red Bull’s top team—and he plans to seize it.

Lawson Determined to Fight Back

A Tough Pill to Swallow

Unsurprisingly, Lawson found his demotion hard to accept.

“It was tough to hear,” he admitted. “But I am determined to prove that I belong in Formula 1.”

Lawson on Red Bull’s Decision

After receiving the news from team principal Christian Horner, Lawson took a couple of days to process what had happened.

“I had one or two days to think about it,” he revealed. “But since then, I’ve been fully focused on preparing with Racing Bulls.”

Car Problems Played a Role

Lawson also pointed out that technical issues played a role in his poor results.

“I suffered from a number of car issues during pre-season testing and in the first race of the season that denied me track time,” he explained.

While acknowledging that problems are part of F1, he had hoped that Red Bull would factor them into their decision.

“In F1, we have issues, it is part of it. I had maybe hoped that would be taken into consideration more,” he said.

Still, he remains determined to prove his worth.

“The main thing is being in a car. I want to prove I belong here. In terms of where my future is, I don’t know, and the only way I can control that is by driving fast.”

Red Bull’s Ruthless Reputation Continues

Harsh but Effective?

Red Bull has long been known for its ruthless approach to driver management. The team has made mid-season swaps before, most notably when they dropped Pierre Gasly for Alex Albon in 2019.

While some see this brutal efficiency as unfair, others argue that it pushes drivers to perform.

Now, all eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda—if he struggles, could Red Bull make another switch before the season ends?

Final Thoughts: Was It Too Soon to Drop Lawson?

Red Bull’s decision to demote Lawson after just two races has sparked heated debate.

• Was he given a fair chance?
• Did the car’s handling issues play a bigger role than Red Bull admits?
• Will Tsunoda succeed where Lawson failed?

One thing is certain—Lawson isn’t giving up. If he can deliver strong performances at Racing Bulls, Red Bull may have to reconsider their decision in the future.

For now, however, the focus shifts to Tsunoda’s debut at the Japanese Grand Prix—where he’ll have a home crowd behind him and a massive point to prove.