Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has responded to comments on Liam Lawson made by Max Verstappen.
Lawson, 23, was drafted in to replace Sergio Perez on the back of the 2024 season.
It was expected that the New Zealander would put up a better fight and score more points for Red Bull as they look to regain the constructor's title.
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However, it has been a dismal start for the rookie as he crashed out during his debut race in Australia before coming home 12th in China.
As a result, Lawson's future is already being questioned, with Racing Bulls star Yuki Tsunoda tipped to step in as early as next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
Over the weekend, while speaking to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Verstappen offered an explanation as to why Lawson may be struggling to adjust to driving for Red Bull, claiming that he would perform better for sister team Racing Bulls.
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“If you look at the difference between the two drivers at the other teams, they are all closer together,” Verstappen said.
“It also shows that our car is extremely tough. I think if you put Liam in the Racing Bulls car, he will go faster. I really think so.
“That car is easier to drive than ours. I also notice that when I talk to Liam. Last year, I didn’t think the difference between him and Yuki Tsunoda was that big. Otherwise the team wouldn’t make the choice to put him in at Red Bull either.”
Christian Horner responds to Max Verstappen's Liam Lawson theory
Red Bull team boss Horner has since responded to Verstappen's comments.
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He said: “I think the Racing Bull is a more settled car in terms of it probably is a little more stable on entry.
“It probably has a bit more understeer in that car and therefore is easier to adapt to but you can see the difference in pace in the cars on a longer stint.
“But I think in terms of finding the limit in a car that has inherent understeer, it is always going to be easier than finding the limit in a car that is a little more edgy.”
F1 will return next weekend with the Japanese Grand Prix, which will be held around the Suzuka Circuit.
Topics: Red Bull Racing, Formula 1, Max Verstappen
Marcus Chan