Max Verstappen takes a stand: likes van der Garde’s post against Red Bull and in favor of Liam Lawson.
Red Bull’s decision to replace Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races has not gone unnoticed by Max Verstappen. The four-time world champion has not openly expressed his dissent, but his gesture on social media has caused quite a stir.
Starting from the Japanese Grand Prix, Tsunoda will join Verstappen at the Milton Keynes team, while Lawson will return to Racing Bulls. It’s a drastic choice by Red Bull, who dropped the young New Zealander after two difficult weekends in Australia and China, offering him no further chances. This decision does not seem to take into account the issues with the RB21, which Verstappen himself has acknowledged as the fourth fastest car on the grid.
Verstappen sides with Lawson
While officially the Dutchman has not spoken out, his ‘like’ on an Instagram post by Giedo van der Garde says a lot. The former F1 driver openly criticized Red Bull’s handling of the situation, calling the move “close to bullying.”
“I’m a bit tired – van der Garde wrote, tagging Lawson – of all the comments about how F1 is the most ruthless sport in terms of performance, and those who don’t deliver are sacrificed. Yes, the pressure is huge, and you have to prove your worth on track. But this decision feels more like an act of bullying than an objective evaluation. They chose to give Liam only two races, then broke his spirit. Let’s not forget the hard work and dedication that got him here. He knows better than anyone that he didn’t shine, but he deserves a real chance. If this decision wasn’t his, I wish him the strength to rise up and prove his worth.”
This situation could further complicate the already tense atmosphere in the Milton Keynes garage. Suzuka could really become a crucial turning point for the Austrian team.
Photo: Oracle Red Bull Racing
