Liam Lawson has just said something about Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen that Martin Brundle will disagree with

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Liam Lawson has had the winter break to prepare for what’s been described as the most difficult position in Formula 1.

Several drivers have tried and failed to live up to the expectations of being Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull over the years.

The latest driver to be given his marching orders was Sergio Perez, with Red Bull confirming Perez’s exit after finishing nearly 300 points behind the Dutchman in 2024.

The likes of Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon fell short of expectations as well and in 2025, Liam Lawson will be tasked with matching Red Bull’s targets and supporting the four-time world champion.

He’s already seen off the threat of Yuki Tsunoda who was overlooked despite being vastly more experienced than the Kiwi.

Red Bull were impressed with Lawson’s character and that strong mentality will be essential when being constantly compared to Verstappen.

There could also be a four-way battle for both championships this year, as Red Bull will be closely monitoring the progress McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes have made over the winter.

Lawson will be expected to challenge the drivers from each of these teams and help deliver the Constructors’ Championship, while Verstappen aims to match Michael Schumacher’s record of five straight individual titles.

Liam Lawson claims Max Verstappen is F1’s most relaxed driver despite furious radio messages

Lawson was set a series of questions on ESPN’s TikTok account about his rivals on the grid next year.

He was asked who the most relaxed driver on the grid was and quickly replied, ‘Max’, while also admitting that he thinks his new Red Bull teammate has the ‘best aura’.

However, it’s unlikely that Martin Brundle will agree with Lawson’s take on Verstappen given his radio messages last season.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

In the past, Brundle has been upset with how Verstappen has spoken on the team radio, particularly during intense battles with some of his rivals.

His radio messages in Abu Dhabi and Austria last year in particular stand out and while no driver is expected to be cool and calm under pressure, to say that he’s more relaxed than his rivals would be hard to argue.

If you contrast Verstappen’s radio messages at last season’s finale with McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s, they hardly compare.

Why Martin Brundle was so upset with Max Verstappen’s radio messages last season

At last year’s race in Abu Dhabi, Piastri and Verstappen collided at the first corner which could have seriously impacted McLaren’s championship hopes.

Verstappen later apologised to Piastri for the incident, but the Australian was heard staying calm on the radio and simply said, ‘Yep, move of a World Champion, that one.’

In constant, Brundle was furious with Verstappen’s attack on the race stewards after he was handed a five-second time penalty.

Brundle also disagreed with Red Bull’s approach to talking to Verstappen after the Austrian Grand Prix when they agreed with him that Lando Norris was to blame for his crash.

The Sky Sports commentator also admitted that Norris’ ‘totally calm’ approach to winning in Abu Dhabi last year could make him a favourite to win the championship this season, which also counters Lawson’s claim.

READ MORE: Who is Red Bull Racing F1 driver Liam Lawson? Everything you need to know

While Verstappen may be a very composed character away from the track, it’s hard to agree that he’s the most relaxed racer in the paddock.

Verstappen’s feud with George Russell in Qatar where the Mercedes driver claimed he was threatened by the Dutchman after he was awarded a penalty for blocking him in qualifying doesn’t fit with what Lawson has said.

However, the 27-year-old’s approach to race weekends – typically sim racing in the build-up to a Grand Prix – suggests that he’s able to quickly switch off from what’s happening on track.

On top of that, his friendship with Lando Norris, despite being title rivals, highlights that Formula 1 isn’t the be-all and end-all of his life like it is for many other drivers.