”THEY’RE NOT FAIR” Liam Lawson upset CONFIRMS Red Bull favoured Max Verstappen’s as they looked after his car more than mine in testing

The 2025 F1 season has only just kicked off with pre-season testing in Bahrain, but tensions are already flaring within the Red Bull camp following explosive comments from rookie driver Liam Lawson. In a candid outburst after the first day of testing with the RB21 – Red Bull’s latest car – Lawson openly expressed his frustration, accusing the team of favoring reigning world champion Max Verstappen by giving his car more attention during the session.

The opening day of testing at the Bahrain International Circuit saw both Lawson and Verstappen take turns behind the wheel of the RB21, a car Red Bull hopes will reclaim the Constructors’ Championship after losing it to McLaren last season. Lawson drove in the morning session, while Verstappen took over in the afternoon. The results, however, painted a stark contrast: Verstappen posted the third-fastest time of the day, while Lawson lagged behind in eighth, nearly a second slower than his teammate.

Post-session, Lawson didn’t hold back. “They’re not fair,” the New Zealand driver told reporters. “I could clearly feel that the technical team put more focus on Max’s car. Mine had issues with grip and oversteer, but my feedback didn’t seem to get the same attention as his.”

The RB21, unveiled with much fanfare at the F1 75 event in London and first tested in Bahrain on February 25, is under scrutiny as Red Bull aims to address the balance issues that plagued its predecessor, the RB20, in 2024. During the morning session, Lawson spun out at Turn 3 due to a loss of control, resulting in significant tire wear. He suggested that the issue could have been mitigated had the team prioritized adjustments to his car as they did for Verstappen.

“We’re both driving the same car, but the way the team handled it was clearly different,” Lawson added. “I’m not asking for special treatment—just fairness so I can show what I’m capable of.”

Team principal Christian Horner was quick to defuse the situation. “Liam is a young driver, full of passion and still learning,” he said. “The first day of testing always comes with challenges, and we’re working to optimize the RB21 for both drivers. There’s no favoritism here—our goal is to ensure Max and Liam can both perform at their best.”

However, Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, offered a more pragmatic take. He acknowledged that Lawson made a “mistake” by tweaking certain setups when switching from hard to medium tires, which hindered his ability to improve his lap times. “Liam did well, but he needs time to adapt,” Marko told Dutch media. “Max is the champion, and naturally, the team leverages his experience to accelerate the car’s development.”

Lawson’s outburst not only highlights internal friction but also puts him in a precarious position as a newcomer to the top team. Stepping into the shoes of Sergio Perez—who trailed Verstappen by 285 points in 2024—Lawson was expected to support Verstappen in the fight for the Constructors’ title. Yet, with this public criticism, he risks straining his relationship with both the team and his teammate.

Verstappen, meanwhile, appeared content with the RB21. “Everything felt fine,” he said after the afternoon session. “I didn’t have any major issues, and the car is performing as expected. We still need more data, but it’s a good start.” His comments only fueled speculation about disparities in team support.

This drama could particularly catch the eye of German F1 fans, who have long followed Red Bull closely thanks to Sebastian Vettel’s past success and remain invested in teams like Mercedes. With Audi set to join F1 in 2026, German fans might see Lawson’s situation as a preview of how big teams manage young talent—a challenge Audi will soon face.

The 2025 season hasn’t even officially started, but Red Bull is already navigating choppy waters. Liam Lawson, whose gritty determination earned him praise through the viral song “I’m Liam Lawson, get out of my way!” is proving he’s not afraid to push back—whether against external rivals or internal pressures. Can he rise above the challenges of racing alongside Verstappen and prove his worth with the RB21, or will these frustrations make his Red Bull journey even tougher? The answers will start to unfold when the season kicks off in March.