Max Verstappen made it clear that his decision to like a critical Instagram post targeting Red Bull’s early-season driver swap was intentional and not a slip of the thumb. After a rough start to the year, Red Bull replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda just two races into the 2025 Formula One season, moving Lawson down to Racing Bulls, Red Bull's developmental team. The sudden change sparked considerable debate within the F1 community, especially after Lawson admitted he was “surprised” by the team's swift decision.

Shortly after the reshuffle, Verstappen’s Instagram account liked a post by former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, who slammed Red Bull’s actions. Van der Garde argued that although F1 demands top-level performance and immense pressure, Red Bull’s quick decision to demote Lawson seemed more like bullying or a panic response than true high-performance management. He emphasized the effort and success Lawson had achieved just to reach this level, suggesting two races weren't enough to fairly judge his capabilities.

Speaking ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen confirmed that his support for the post was deliberate. “I liked the comment, the text, so I guess that speaks for itself, right? It was not a mistake,” he told Sky Sports, also mentioning that he had spoken privately with Lawson following the decision. However, Verstappen chose not to elaborate publicly on his full thoughts regarding the swap, indicating that internal discussions had already taken place within the team.

The reigning four-time world champion explained that he had shared all his feelings about the situation with the Red Bull team, both during the previous race weekend and back at the factory. Verstappen stressed that not every internal matter needs to be made public, hinting that some issues are better dealt with behind closed doors to maintain team unity and focus.

While Verstappen battles at the top of the standings — currently sitting second behind McLaren’s Lando Norris by eight points after two races — Lawson has yet to score a point from his outings. Meanwhile, Tsunoda, who managed to collect three points with Racing Bulls, now prepares for his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix, a race he’s dreamed of shining at for his entire career.

Tsunoda called it “the best situation ever” to make his Red Bull debut at home and admitted he was dreaming of achieving his first F1 podium in Japan. Riding the wave of excitement, he recognized the immense challenge ahead but remained optimistic, especially given the opportunity to perform in front of his home crowd.

Red Bull’s expectations for Tsunoda are crystal clear: support Verstappen. The team has tasked him with staying as close as possible to Max on the track, a move that benefits both strategy and overall race performance. Tsunoda, who impressed Red Bull with his technical feedback during offseason tests, understands that while matching Verstappen’s level will be a steep climb, providing strong support and aiding car development will be crucial to his success in his new role.