Max Verstappen has doubled down on his disagreement with Red Bull’s decision to drop Liam Lawson, insisting the young driver was not given a fair opportunity to prove himself. The reigning world champion believes removing Lawson after just two race weekends was an overly harsh call that ignored the realities of adapting to a top team.
Verstappen warned that such a short-lived chance at the front of the grid can have lasting consequences. In his view, being sidelined so quickly doesn’t just affect immediate results, but can seriously damage a driver’s long-term prospects in Formula 1, particularly when that chance comes with a leading outfit.
The four-time champion suggested that expectations placed on drivers promoted to Red Bull are often unrealistic. Adjusting to the pressure, the car, and the environment takes time, and Verstappen feels Lawson was denied the patience usually required to unlock a driver’s true potential.
Lawson had been promoted to Red Bull for the 2025 season after being chosen ahead of Yuki Tsunoda. At the time, former team principal Christian Horner explained the decision by pointing to Lawson’s perceived upward trajectory and the belief within the team that his ceiling was higher.
Despite that confidence, the swift reversal has left Verstappen unconvinced. He maintains that backing a young driver means standing by them through early struggles, and that failing to do so risks wasting talent rather than nurturing it.
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