Racing Bulls Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson has shared how Max Verstappen was “really good” to him after he was demoted from Red Bull in 2025.
Heading into the 2025 season, the New Zealander signed with Red Bull for the seat alongside the four-time champion, taking Sergio Perez’s place. But after just two race weekends, Lawson was replaced by Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda. While Tsunoda remained in the seat until the end of 2025, he has now moved to a reserve driver role with Isack Hadjar assuming the position for 2026.
“He’s also so, so nice as a person. He’s such a nice guy. Through everything that happened last year with Red Bull, he was so good to me, man,” Lawson explained during an appearance on the Gypsy Tales Podcast.
Before I came into the team, when I first came on the team, he was super nice and any questions, he was just helpful, really helpful, was happy to help. And then afterwards as well, he was really, really good to me.”
He added: “He was honestly really, really good. And then quite often he flies home, and I just moved to Monaco last year, and he’s like ‘Just come with me if you ever need a ride.’ So he’s a real, real nice guy.”
Pre-season testing came to an end on Friday 20 February, and the countdown is now on to the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on 6-8 March. Lawson was positive about the team’s pre-season testing, explaining that there weren’t any standout issues.