Liam Lawson, the promising New Zealand driver, was initially promoted to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing for the 2025 Formula 1 season. However, just a few races into the campaign, he was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda, putting the Kiwi’s future alongside Verstappen in serious doubt. This ongoing Max Verstappen teammate controversy has stirred debate over Red Bull’s driver strategy and risk management.
Sergio Perez’s unexpected departure after the 2024 season, despite a recently signed contract, opened the door for Lawson’s elevation from the VCARB series. His strong form there earned him this rare opportunity, but his struggles in the RB21 car led to an early exit back to his previous team.
Challenges Faced by Lawson and Tsunoda in Red Bull’s Second Car
Both Lawson and Tsunoda have found it difficult to consistently score points in the second Red Bull vehicle. While Tsunoda replaced Lawson, his track record remains modest, accumulating points in only three of the twelve races so far. These struggles have intensified questions about who will join Verstappen in 2026 as Honda plans to leave the partnership to support Aston Martin.
Reports indicate Honda offered Red Bull a reduced price on their power units to secure Tsunoda’s seat, highlighting the manufacturer’s role in driver selection. Yet, with Tsunoda’s ongoing performance issues and Honda’s exit, Red Bull must reconsider the makeup of its driver lineup for the coming season.
Emerging Contenders for Verstappen’s 2026 Teammate Spot
Rumors suggest that Isack Hadjar is a strong candidate to replace Tsunoda, while Red Bull’s F2 talent Arvid Lindblad might soon be promoted to F1. Despite Lawson’s experience and past opportunities, sources within Red Bull firmly indicate he will not be given another chance as Verstappen’s teammate.
“The only thing close to certain within the company’s two F1 teams at the moment is that Lawson will not get another opportunity at the senior team, which would suggest he would be the one on the chopping block should there be a strong desire to promote Lindblad in 2026.” —ESPN source
Liam Lawson’s Perspective on Red Bull’s Development Process
Lawson has expressed frustration about how Red Bull managed his transition into the top team, citing limited testing opportunities and preparation compared to other rising drivers. He highlighted the unusual circumstances surrounding his debut and the challenges faced during test days and race weekends.
“If you look at how other teams have approached bringing a young driver in and you look at the test days, the time in the seat, the amount of testing that, for example, Kimi [Antonelli], has done in the past before racing this year – we didn’t do any of that.” —Liam Lawson
“It was two weekends on two tracks I’d never raced at, one of them being a sprint weekend. They weren’t smooth weekends. We had issues in Bahrain [testing] with reliability, we had issues in Melbourne with reliability,” he added. —Liam Lawson
Current Standings and Implications for the Red Bull Team
At present, Lawson sits just a few points behind Isack Hadjar in the championship standings, signaling his continued competitiveness despite the setback. Tsunoda trails with about half the points Lawson holds, raising further concerns about his future at Red Bull.
This Max Verstappen teammate controversy has larger implications for Red Bull’s strategic direction, as the team balances driver talent, manufacturer relations, and internal politics. The next few months will likely see crucial decisions on driver lineups that directly affect Verstappen’s support and Red Bull’s success in the 2026 season and beyond.