Liam Lawson has revealed that he became the target of online abuse by fans of Yuki Tsunoda after being confirmed as Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing for 2025.
The Kiwi owed his promotion to his baptism of fire in 2023 when he substituted for an injured Daniel Ricciardo in five races and then replaced the beleaguered Aussie in the final six events of this year.
His strong performances eventually convinced Red Bull’s top brass to entrust the 22-year-old with Sergio Perez’s seat at Red Bull Racing, a decision that has left Tsunoda facing a fifth season with RB.
Last week, as he was thrust into the limelight, Lawson subsequently faced a hefty dose of online toxicity from the Japanese driver's fans. This wasn’t his first experience being on the receiving end of abuse, having previously been targeted by Ricciardo’s die-hard supporters, as he explained in an interview with The Times
“Originally I saw a lot of [the abuse] because I didn’t expect it, I wasn’t ready for that,” admitted the young gun.
“To be honest, I just don’t really go on social media at all anymore. I will post for my fanbase, but I won’t scroll or look through messages.
“You do the prep for F1 to be ready as a driver, and then you don’t really expect that kind of stuff, or you don’t really prepare for it, because you’re just focused on driving.”
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As Lawson steps up to partner Verstappen, he faces what is arguably the most challenging task in Formula 1: thriving alongside a teammate who has been dubbed a “team-mate destroyer.”
The four-time world champion's dominance has left a trail of discarded drivers – Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Perez – who all struggled to adapt to Red Bull’s notoriously tricky machinery, which many believe is tailored to Verstappen’s specific demands and driving style.
Yet, Lawson doesn’t buy into the narrative that driving styles are a deciding factor in success at the team.
“In terms of driving styles, I don’t really know if I believe in it so much,” he told PlanetF1.
“I think you have certain things you like a car to do but I think also, for me, I spent a lot of time developing that car as well, as a junior and as a reserve for the last couple of years, and I feel like I understand quite well the way the car drives.
“But I also don’t fully believe in ‘This doesn’t suit your driving style’. I think as drivers, we’re professionals, we have to adapt to whatever we’re driving.”
As Lawson prepares for his biggest challenge yet, he’s determined to keep his focus firmly on the task at hand.
While the online abuse may have stung, Lawson’s resolve remains unshaken as he gears up to take on Verstappen and prove his place among motorsport’s elite.
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