Max Verstappen deserves serious ‘credit’ for what he was spotted doing with Liam Lawson after the Chinese Grand Prix

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Being Max Verstappen’s teammate is routinely described as the most difficult job in Formula 1.

Liam Lawson is the current incumbent of that role at Red Bull, but how long that lasts remains to be seen.

Lawson might lose his Red Bull after just two races following back-to-back disappointing weekends in Australia and China.

He is far from the only driver who has failed to live up to expectations this season, but the environment at Red Bull means the pressure is ramped up from the word go.

Max Verstappen has been critical of Red Bull’s car by suggesting that Lawson might be faster in a Racing Bulls machine because of its larger operating window.

Verstappen doesn’t want Yuki Tsunoda to replace Lawson as he doesn’t believe that will fix the fundamental problems that the RB21 is suffering from, which any driver would struggle with.

In the paddock after the Chinese Grand Prix, Verstappen showed exactly how much he cared about his new teammate and the support he’s offering to help him improve after his difficult start to 2025.

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

Max Verstappen spotted ‘ending support’ to Liam Lawson after the Chinese Grand Prix

Commentator Alex Jacques was chatting to Tom Clarkson and Laura Winter on the F1 Nation Podcast after the race in Shanghai and while speaking about Red Bull, he said: “I want to say, credit to Max Verstappen.

“Whilst we’ve been recording this, he’s been talking to Liam over your shoulder, Tom.

“He was having a five-minute conversation with him, he’s clearly lending support, they’re clearly debriefing the race.

“Max needs someone alongside who can turn that into a… I mean, if you look at what McLaren have, if you look at what Ferrari have, if you look at what Mercedes will have, I believe, by the end of the year, and then suddenly you look at what Red Bull have, they’re falling away.

“And we’re talking about the fact that it’s even a conversation [replacing Lawson].

“I don’t think it’s going to happen, but I think [the fact] it’s even a conversation, I think they’ve gone the wrong way with the drivers.”

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

Alex Jacques tells Red Bull who they should have signed instead of Liam Lawson

Jacques was asked who he believed was the best option for Red Bull if Lawson wasn’t the answer, and he replied: “Carlos Sainz, sign Carlos Sainz who was on the market. They had the option to do that.

“He’s a proven Grand Prix winner. You know his data from the time when he was alongside Max Verstappen.

“He didn’t beat Max Verstappen, and he didn’t beat Charles Leclerc often, but he’s a driver who would pick up the wins when it didn’t go to plan.

“If Max Verstappen has contact with the driver at turn one, Carlos Sainz was capable of winning Grand Prix.

“They’ve looked internally, and I think they’ve got themselves in a massive tangle, and I don’t think Liam Lawson deserves to take the brunt of what he’s doing, which is [that] he’s an elite sportsman at the top of motor racing, and he’s qualifying last. That is really tough.”

Max Verstappen going above and beyond to help Red Bull out of a difficult spot

Racing alongside Verstappen is extremely difficult as he’s not only one of the most talented drivers in recent Formula 1 history, but he prefers his cars to be incredibly sensitive.

Alex Albon went to extreme lengths to try and match Verstappen but eventually lost his seat to Sergio Perez.

Verstappen backed the Mexican driver right until the end of his time with Red Bull, sympathising with the situation he was in as the RB20 never suited his driving style.

Red Bull engineers apologised to Perez for not listening to his concerns sooner, and Verstappen is working behind the scenes to improve this year’s car.

Verstappen needs Red Bull to improve to help him win a fifth consecutive title and having a teammate who can support him during races may be essential to that.

Helping Lawson makes plenty of sense to Verstappen and isn’t a trait that you would see in every world champion.