Two races into the 2025 Formula 1 season Red Bull shocked the paddock, demoting Liam Lawson after picking him to replace Sergio Pérez. Lawson heads back to Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and Yuki Tsunoda,

But Verstappen did indicate his position by admitting that his liking of an Instagram post by ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, who wrote that Red Bull’s decision was “closer to bullying or a panic move,” was not a mistake or an accident. “I liked the text,” Verstappen said. “I guess that speaks for itself, right?”

Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull’s senior team a week ago in place of Liam Lawson. The two drivers were teammates at RB’s junior F1 team Racing Bulls for the final six races of the 2024 season. After Red Bull Racing moved on from Sergio Perez at the end of the season, Lawson got the call to jump up instead of Tsunoda.