Max Verstappen stirs Red Bull controversy with social media move

Max Verstappen has added more fuel to the fire at Red Bull by liking an Instagram post accusing the team of “bullying” axed teammate Liam Lawson — a move that has fans and pundits questioning the harmony within the reigning world champion’s camp.

The Instagram post, written by former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde, slammed Red Bull’s ruthless decision to dump Lawson after just two races in favour of Yuki Tsunoda, who now steps up to partner Verstappen at the senior team.

Verstappen’s like — which has since been removed — didn’t go unnoticed, with many interpreting it as a subtle show of support for the dumped Kiwi and a potential swipe at team management.

Lawson’s demotion follows a nightmare start to his Red Bull stint, with a crash in Melbourne and a P15 finish in Shanghai sealing his fate. But critics say two races were nowhere near enough time to adapt to the unforgiving RB21 — a car tailor-made for Verstappen’s driving style.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said the early switch was to “protect and develop” Lawson, returning him to the Racing Bulls alongside rookie Isack Hadjar.

But the backlash has been fierce, especially given Tsunoda’s inconsistent results and spiky pre-swap comments.

The drama comes amid lingering tension between Verstappen and Red Bull, particularly after last year’s internal turmoil surrounding Horner.

The news hasn’t impacted Red Bull’s odds of winning the Constructors’ Championship, with top online bookmakers still offering $29.00.

While the team insists it’s business as usual, Verstappen’s social media move has only heightened speculation about cracks behind the scenes — and where his long-term future may lie.

With the Japanese Grand Prix looming, and Tsunoda making his Red Bull debut on home soil, all eyes will be on the team’s garage — and whether the storm is just beginning.

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