‘It wasn’t a mistake’ – Max Verstappen makes feelings abundantly clear after liking anti-Red Bull post
Max Verstappen has confirmed his anger with Red Bull’s hasty driver swap in damning fashion.
Reports emerged that the reigning four-time champion was upset after his bosses swapped teammate Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda just two races into the new season.
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With the news dominating headlines after the Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen liked an Instagram post from countryman Giedo van der Garde who criticised the move.
The Dutch former Formula 1 driver turned pundit said he felt the move ‘comes closer to bullying’ and said it would ‘crush Lawson’s spirit’.
Speaking ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen didn’t go for the accidental like excuse, instead confirming that he was in full agreement.
"I liked the text, so that says enough, right? It wasn't a mistake. That sometimes happens when you click on something,” he told the media.
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"My reaction is known within the team. That was not only about the change but also about other things. We already discussed that during the last race weekend and in the factory.
"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.
"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.
"I've discussed everything with the team, I've spoken to Liam and that's all I can say about it."
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Verstappen's supreme skill coupled with his unique driving style has meant being Red Bull’s No.2 driver has become the worst job in F1.
Not since 2017 with Daniel Ricciardo has a teammate been anywhere near his pace, and after a terrible 2024, six-time race-winner Sergio Perez was scrapped for Lawson - who in turn, lasted just two races.
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"People always say that Liam did 11 races or something in total, but over a different period of time," Verstappen added.
"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."
There have been rumblings of discontent from Verstappen since the start of last year when team principal and CEO Christian Horner was accused of inappropriate conduct by a female employee - an allegation he denies and was cleared of by an internal investigation.
The 2024 season also saw Red Bull’s far superior pace evaporate, and that trend has continued into the new year, going from the third fastest car in F1 to arguably the fourth.
It's still shockingly bad! Max Verstappen jokes about his strained relationship with George Russell
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However, in the past it was the 27-year-old’s father Jos who publicly took on Red Bull’s management.
Speaking in March during the Horner scandal, the former Benetton driver said: "There is tension here while he remains in position.
"The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems."
The issue eventually settled down, with Verstappen able to close out his fourth title, although Red Bull surrendered the constructors’ championship, with teammate Sergio Perez eighth in the standings.
Given Lawson’s start and the fact that Red Bull already passed over Tsunoda during the winter, that trend could well continue, with Verstappen left fighting all alone for wins against the double-pronged attack of McLaren and Ferrari who both have two race-winning drivers.
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This year's F1 season is set to get the pulses racing, with reigning champion Max Vertappen, Lewis Hamilton and young contender Lando Norris expected to be competing for the driver's championship.
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