Max Verstappen ‘not completely happy’ with Red Bull resolution to axe team-mate Liam Lawson after simply two races of the F1 season, with ‘his alternative named’ for Japanese Grand Prix

Defending Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has been left frustrated by Red Bull’s apparent decision to sack Liam Lawson just two races into the new season.

Lawson, 23, has had a disastrous start to his Red Bull career, scoring zero points from three opportunities so far in one of the best cars on the grid.

He was immediately put under pressure to succeed when partnered with Verstappen after McLaren pipped Red Bull to the constructors’ title last season, prompting the team to change their second driver.

Mexican veteran Sergio Perez had that seat last season, but a disappointing campaign that saw him finish eighth in the standings and led to Red Bull paying off the remainder of his contract to promote Lawson.

There were high hopes for Lawson as he was promoted from the Racing Bulls team, but he is yet to pick up any points from two races and a sprint race, and it has been reported by Dutch publication Telegraaf that the decision has been made to demote him already, calling up former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in his place.

That call, however, has left Verstappen disappointed, with it reported that the Dutchman disagreed with the brutal decision that is set to be confirmed soon.

Max Verstappen has reportedly been left frustrated by Red Bull’s decision to axe Liam Lawson

Lawson has reportedly been demoted from the team after failing to score a point in the first two races of the season

Verstappen had reportedly been against the decision to send the New Zealander back to Racing Bulls

According to The Telegraph, there are final details to be ironed out, but the decision had been made to make the swap already.

In the opening race of the season in Australia, New Zealander Lawson registered a DNF as he crashed into a barrier before finishing 14th in the sprint race in China at the weekend.

For the main race, he qualified 20th – last – and finished 12th. Verstappen came fourth.

His struggles mean Red Bull are already well below rivals McLaren in their bid to regain the constructors’ title, already 42 points down after Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris came first and second respectively in China.

It is expected that the swap will be official for the Japan Grand Prix next week – Tsunoda’s home race.

The 24-year-old was Lawson’s team-mate at Racing Bulls last year – the junior team of Red Bull.

Despite finishing 26 points better off in the standings, it was Lawson who got the promotion – though that has now seemingly changed.

Tsunoda has three points so far this season after finishing sixth in the sprint race in China. He came 16th in the actual race, and finished 12th in Australia.

Reports suggest he will be replaced by former team-mate Yuki Tsunoda ahead of next week’s Japanese Grand Prix

Lawson recently said that he did not feel sorry for Tsunoda, having been chosen ahead of him to represent Red Bull this year

Verstappen had been vocal in his support of Lawson despite his struggles, saying: ‘That Racing Bulls car is easier to drive than ours. I notice that when I talk to Liam.

‘Last year the difference between him and Yuki wasn’t that big, I thought. Otherwise the team wouldn’t have made the choice to put Liam in at Red Bull.’

Red Bull chief Christian Horner, meanwhile, held his cards close to his chest when asked up front about Lawson’s poor showings after China, saying he would do his best to support his man.

‘Liam is obviously, confidence-wise, struggling with the car at the moment, which is why we made some significant changes today to see if we could find a more confidence-inspiring set-up for him,’ Horner said. ‘I think Liam still has got potential, we’re just not realising that at the moment. I think the problem for him is he’s had a couple of really tough weekends, he’s got all the media on his back.

‘The pressure just naturally grows in this business, and I feel very sorry for him. You can see it’s very tough on him at the moment. He’s a young guy, we’ve got a duty to look after him and we’re going to do the best that we can to support him.’

It is reported that the decision was made on Tuesday in Dubai at the home of major shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya.

Lawson had previously admitted he didn’t feel bad for his former team-mate, telling The Telegraph in China: ‘Honestly? No. You can’t in this sport, and anyway, if I look back over our career, I was team-mates with him in F3 and I beat him.

Red Bull chief Christian Horner had said that Lawson had been struggling ‘confidence-wise’

Lawson failed to finish in Australia before coming 14th in the sprint race and 12th in the main race in China

The decision is understood to have been made on Tuesday at the home of major shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya

‘In Euro Formula I was team-mates with him in New Zealand, and I beat him there. And then in F1 last season, I think honestly, if I look at all the times he got promoted instead of me in those early years, then no. He’s had his time. Now it’s my time.’

Tsunoda will be Verstappen’s sixth different partner at Red Bull since he made the step up in 2016.

Daniel Riccardo, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Perez all struggled alongside the Dutchman, and it was no different for Lawson, though he has seemingly been cut quicker than anyone previously.

While Riccardo lasted two years, Gasly was moved on after 12 races. Albon got 26, and Perez was finally cut at the end of last year after a dismal run.