Overview

• Red Bull Racing demoted Liam Lawson after two races, replacing him with Yuki Tsunoda ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
• Max Verstappen expressed disapproval by liking a critical Instagram post and stating it reflected his views on the decision.
• Team principal Christian Horner described the move as 'cruel to be kind,' emphasizing Lawson's future potential despite the setback.
• Yuki Tsunoda acknowledged the intense pressure of his promotion, which coincides with his home Grand Prix and Honda's final season with Red Bull.
• Critics, including former driver Giedo van der Garde, accused Red Bull of mishandling Lawson, highlighting the team's history of rapid driver changes and Verstappen-focused car design.