Being teammate to Max Verstappen has proven difficult for many drivers over the past six years. The recent replacement of Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunoda after just two races highlights the extreme pressure and high standards within Red Bull Racing.
Yuki Tsunoda is now the latest driver to take on what is widely considered one of the most challenging positions in Formula 1. Liam Lawson returns to Racing Bulls, with hopes of regaining his confidence.
Lawson was initially considered as a potential replacement for Sergio Perez after Perez`s struggles impacted Red Bull`s chances of retaining the Constructors` Championship.
Despite spending four seasons with Red Bull, Perez was never consistently close to Verstappen`s performance level. Before Perez, Alex Albon had an 18-month stint, and Pierre Gasly lasted only half a season.
This raises the question: why is it so hard to be Verstappen`s teammate?
Verstappen`s Unique Driving Style
One theory suggests that Red Bull designs its car to suit Verstappen`s specific driving style.
Drivers have different preferences in car handling; some prefer understeer, while others prefer oversteer. Verstappen favors oversteer and a car that turns sharply into corners.
Verstappen`s Car Handling Preference
An ideal race car would have neither oversteer nor understeer, but F1 cars typically exhibit one or both.
`I prefer a responsive front end but with a rear that is just stable enough for controlled balance,` Verstappen explained about his driving style.
`I like a strong front end and dislike understeer as it diminishes the car`s feel. I prefer a sharp front end with a rear that`s on the edge, but still reliable.`
Alex Albon, who was Verstappen`s teammate in 2019 and 2020, struggled to match Verstappen`s performance, often fighting to reach Q3 and having to recover positions to score points.
In a 2023 interview, Albon likened driving the Red Bull alongside Verstappen to a computer game with extremely high sensitivity.
`Many believe the car is built around him, similar to Schumacher at Ferrari,` Albon noted.
`The car has its inherent characteristics, and he is exceptionally fast. His driving style is quite unique and not easily adaptable to.`
`Everyone has a driving style. Mine is smoother, preferring a sharp and direct front end. Max also likes a sharp front, but his level is extreme.`
`To illustrate, imagine a computer game with maximum sensitivity. A slight mouse movement sends the cursor darting across the screen. That`s the feeling. It becomes so sharp it induces tension.`
Car Design and Verstappen`s Influence
Is Red Bull designing the car specifically to Verstappen`s preferences?
Verstappen has been with Red Bull since 2016 and has consistently outperformed his teammates since 2019, except for a few instances due to misfortune or team strategy.
Christian Horner, Red Bull`s team principal, stated, `You always aim for peak performance. Fast cars are challenging to drive, but we need to find more performance and have both drivers competitive for the Constructors` Championship, and certainly for the Drivers` Championship. You can`t compete with only one driver.`
Horner added, `Verstappen constantly demands more front-end grip, and naturally, development follows the direction of your faster driver.`
Despite this, Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with the car for nearly a year, particularly since McLaren`s improved performance last season.
Verstappen`s driving style often involves visibly correcting the car`s direction, indicating that even this year`s Red Bull might not be perfectly suited to him. However, his exceptional talent allows him to maximize performance even with a less-than-ideal car.
Confidence is Key
Formula 1 drivers make countless decisions per lap, each critical to performance.
Braking points, braking force, turn-in timing and angle, cornering lines, and throttle application—all occur within seconds, often while racing wheel-to-wheel.
Any hesitation or lack of confidence in the car is detrimental, and the pressure intensifies at a top team like Red Bull.
Martin Brundle noted Lawson`s seven-tenths gap to Verstappen in Q1 in China, highlighting the immense challenge of closing such a gap.
`It seems like a small margin per corner, but it’s incredibly difficult to find. It requires a fundamental shift to gain seven tenths of a second.`
In 2023 and 2024, Perez initially matched Verstappen`s pace, but the gap widened as the season progressed. Albon suggested this is because car development favored Verstappen`s style, making it faster but harder to drive for others.
`Initially, you`re slightly behind, but as the season advances, Max wants more front-end sharpness. As the car becomes sharper, he gets faster, and to catch up, you must take more risks,` Albon explained.
`Pushing harder can lead to mistakes and crashes, disrupting your rhythm. The gap then widens, and regaining confidence becomes harder. With each car update making it sharper, tension increases.`
`Like in any sport, losing flow and overthinking negatively impacts performance. If you`re unsure how the car will react in each corner, confidence wanes, and performance suffers.`
Verstappen`s Exceptional Talent
Beyond driving styles and car development, Verstappen`s exceptional talent is undeniably a major factor.
Nico Rosberg considers Verstappen the best driver he competed against, placing him among F1`s top five drivers alongside legends like Schumacher, Senna, Hamilton, and Fangio.
Verstappen is currently performing at his peak, demonstrated by arguably winning the 2024 title even without the best car.
It’s plausible that most drivers on the grid would struggle to match Verstappen in identical equipment, such is his skill level.
`He’s a phenomenal talent, consistently showing his ability,` Horner acknowledged.
`Looking back, it`s clear how exceptional Max is. The world is beginning to fully recognize his special talent.`
