F1 champion Max Verstappen issues BRUTAL verdict on Red Bull team-mate decision

Red Bull drivers situation — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 News & Gossip

Verstappen issues BRUTAL verdict on Red Bull team-mate decision

Liam Lawson will partner Max Verstappen in 2025

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Thursday 9 January 2025 10:57 Updated: 13:19

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Max Verstappen has issued a brutal verdict on Red Bull’s team-mate decision as he prepares to go up against Liam Lawson in 2025.

Red Bull only managed a third place finish in the constructors’ championship in 2024, as the team’s performance declined and Sergio Perez failed to consistently score points.

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As a result the Mexican driver was replaced by Liam Lawson at the end of 2024, despite the youngster having not yet completed a full season in F1.

Lawson’s promotion ensured that Red Bull junior driver Isack Hadjar moved up to F1, as the Frenchman completed the grid by signing with VCARB.

How will Liam Lawson fare as Max Verstappen's team-mate?

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Verstappen delivers Red Bull team-mate verdict

Whilst Lawson won’t be expected to beat Verstappen upon his arrival at Red Bull, the team will be hoping that his performances will be a lot closer to the champion than Perez’s were, in a bid to regain the constructors’ trophy.

Verstappen also re-asserted this goal, but delivered a brutal verdict over his new Red Bull team-mate.

“If we can get the car back to the front, the name in the other cockpit won’t matter,” Verstappen said to Blick.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but if we can rectify certain weaknesses over the winter, we’ll be back at the front. But I’m certainly not making any predictions here.”

“Five teams should be fighting at the front. The weaknesses have been narrowed down.

“We often lacked the necessary balance because we simply couldn’t get into the low-temperature window.”