Max Verstappen dealt shock F1 LOSER verdict in Red Bull team-mate debate

Verstappen, Lawson, Tsunoda,socials — Photo: © IMAGO

Red Bull

Red Bull star issues shock LOSER verdict on Verstappen

Verstappen has a new team-mate for the 2025 season

Chris Deeley

Sunday 2 February 2025 14:03 Updated: 16:05

A Red Bull Formula 1 star has issued a surprise 'loser' verdict on Max Verstappen ahead of the 2025 season.

The Dutchman won his fourth straight world championship last year and will be looking to equal Michael Schumacher's long-standing record of five consecutive titles (won between 2000 and 2004).

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The 27-year-old has been notoriously combative both inside and outside of his own team, with his radio messages to long-suffering engineer Gianpiero Lambiase becoming notorious.

He also famously got into a big dispute with George Russell towards the end of last season, with that dispute spilling over into the media in a weeks-long saga.

George Russell and Max Verstappen clashed after a fractious stewards meeting

Gianpiero Lambiase has been Verstappen's race engineer for eight years

To celebrate Verstappen’s fourth championship, click here to pre-order the official champion cap, as worn by the Red Bull driver following his championship-winning drive in Las Vegas.

Who is the worst loser in F1?

Now, Verstappen's new team-mate Liam Lawson has spoken out about his new colleague, having been promoted to the main Red Bull team from Racing Bulls to replace the declining Sergio Perez.

The New Zealander was asked a series of quickfire questions by ESPN about his fellow drivers, including 'most competitive' – for which he named himself.

Verstappen's name came up multiple times, initially for 'best aura' and 'most relaxed', but it was the confidence with which he was immediately named 'worst loser' by Lawson which stood out.

The Dutchman famously had a good relationship with former team-mate Perez, with fans looking forward to finding out how he and Lawson's partnership develops as the 2025 season opener looms.