Liam Lawson dismisses Zak Brown’s comments on Red Bull’s driver choices, while Jos Verstappen accuses the McLaren boss of stirring controversy.
Liam Lawson has responded to Zak Brown’s recent claim that Yuki Tsunoda deserves a seat at Red Bull this season.
The young New Zealander was chosen to replace Sergio Perez at Red Bull, leapfrogging Tsunoda in the pecking order, as decided by team bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.
Lawson made his Red Bull debut at last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix but struggled to find pace. He was eliminated in Q1 twice during qualifying and later crashed into the barriers in heavy rain during the race.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda delivered an impressive performance, holding his position in the top five for most of the Grand Prix before a poor strategy call cost him valuable points.
Brown, CEO of McLaren, then remarked that Tsunoda was “probably the driver who should be at Red Bull based on performance” and criticized the team for making “some strange driver choices from time to time.”
When asked about Brown’s comments in China, Lawson shrugged them off.
“To be honest, I couldn’t care less about what Zak says.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to him, and I haven’t been on social media in the last couple of days.”
Lawson Eyes a Comeback in China
After a tough weekend in Australia, Lawson is looking to bounce back in China and deliver a stronger performance in his new surroundings.
With four race weekends in the next five weeks, he believes the tight schedule will help him adapt more quickly to the RB21 and build momentum.
“As a driver, when you have a good weekend, sometimes you want a break. But after a tough one, you just want to get back on track. So for me, this is great.”
“It’s also good to have so many races early in the season. We get a short break after China, then a triple-header.”
“Given how little experience I have with this car, having back-to-back races will help me get more comfortable and absorb everything as quickly as possible.”
Jos Verstappen Fires Back at Brown
Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, also took aim at Zak Brown, accusing the McLaren boss of stirring up trouble.
Alongside his criticism of Red Bull’s driver choices, Brown recently predicted that Max Verstappen would leave Red Bull at the end of the season—possibly for Mercedes.
He also revealed that he had reached out to Verstappen’s management team to “explore the market,” stating that he keeps discussions open with most drivers.
Jos Verstappen was unimpressed. Speaking in China, he said:
“He’s just trying to create chaos.”
“I don’t know what Zak is up to right now, but tomorrow he’s in a joint press conference with Christian (Horner). That should be interesting!”
Brown has openly admitted that his feud with Horner is “genuine,” hinting at another fiery exchange in the upcoming media session.
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Lawson Hits Back: ‘I Don’t Care What Zak Brown Says!’ Lawson Hits Back: ‘I Don’t Care What Zak Brown Says!’
