Former teammate Max Verstappen reveals the secret plan of Saboteurs to sabotage him in RB21

The Formula 1 world has been shaken again by a startling unveiling by Liam Lawson, former teammate of Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing. In a recent interview with RN365, the New Zealander opened a book about what he describes as a “secret plan” within Red Bull to sabotage him during his short period as Verstappen’s teammate in the RB21. These allegations cast a shadow over the internal dynamics of the team from Milton Keynes and raise questions about the treatment of young drivers within the Red Bull family.

Lawson, who was appointed as successor to Sergio Pérez at the end of the 2024 season, only had two races the opportunity to prove themselves in addition to the four -time world champion. After a little impressive winter test in Bahrain and disappointing performance in Australia and China, he was already replaced by Yuki Tsunoda for the Grand Prix of China. According to Lawson, his short period at Red Bull was anything but fair. He points to a lack of test time and support, something that other teams, according to him, tackle better for their young drivers. “If you look at how other teams introduce young drivers, with extensive test days and preparation, we won’t get that,” Lawson said. He refers to Kimi Antonelli, who received much more preparation time from another team before debuting.

The core of Lawson’s accusations revolves around a specific event during the Grand Prix of China, his last race for Red Bull. The team decided to apply an experimental adjustment to its RB21, supposedly to help him better understand the car and to develop for the long term. Lawson agreed, assuming that this would be an instructive step. However, the adjustment turned out to be far from ideal, which resulted in a disappointing performance. In retrospect, Lawson realized that this set-up was possible to intentionally chose its performance. “That achievement was used to put me out of the team,” he said. This statement suggests that there was a conscious strategy within Red Bull to replace Lawson after just two races, which the New Zealander experienced as a sabotage.

Interestingly, Max Verstappen openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the quick decision to replace Lawson. The Dutchman, who is known for his direct approach, showed a “like” on Instagram that he did not agree with the choice of the team. This gesture underlines tensions within Red Bull, especially since Verstappen, according to some sources, influences the choice of his teammate. A former Red Bull headpiece, Richard Hopkins, even suggested that Verstappen may have a clause in his contract that gives him a say in who rides next to him. Although Verstappen has never confirmed this, his response to Lawson’s departure points to a difference of opinion with the team management.

Lawson itself emphasizes that his confidence was not broken by experience, despite the speculations that his self -confidence would have suffered a dent. “I felt the same as always,” he said in an interview with the official Formula 1 website. He blames his difficult start on a combination of factors: unknown circuits, reliability problems with the RB21 and a lack of test time. “It didn’t go from a slate roof, but I needed time to adjust, and I didn’t get it,” said Lawson. In the meantime he is running again for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls, where he even has two points ahead of Tsunoda in the championship.

The revelations of Lawson raise broader questions about the culture within Red Bull Racing. The team is known for its hard approach and fast judgments about drivers, but this situation suggests that there may be internal machinations that go beyond performance alone. For Verstappen, who is still the pivot of Red Bull’s ambitions, the focus remains on maintaining a competitive car. Laurent Mekies, the new team boss, recently emphasized that the team makes every effort to keep Verstappen by offering him the fastest car. Whether this strategy is sufficient to keep the Dutchman satisfied, especially after the controversies around Lawson, an open question remains.

This case reveals the complexity and rivalry within Formula 1, where talent, politics and strategy are closely intertwined. Lawson’s story is a warning for young drivers who dream of a place at a top team: success requires not only speed, but also an environment that gives them the chance to shine.