Verstappen stated that Lawson "would be quicker" at Racing Bulls.

      Liam Lawson shouldn't be overly upset if he is let go by Red Bull Racing. This is the belief of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who is finding it hard to conceal his dissatisfaction with his 2025 car at the moment. The Dutch driver is in the running for his fifth consecutive drivers' world championship this year, but he appears unimpressed with his vehicle, which is the same one that new teammate Liam Lawson has been the slowest in all weekend in China.

      Red Bull is already contemplating replacing Lawson with Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar. However, Verstappen cautions Hadjar that he may face a rude awakening. "That Racing Bulls car is easier to drive than ours," Verstappen remarked to Dutch reporters in Shanghai. "I can tell from my conversations with Liam. Last year, the gap between him and Yuki (Tsunoda) wasn’t that significant, in my opinion. Otherwise, the team wouldn't have opted to place Liam in Red Bull."

      Speculation that Verstappen might activate a performance clause in his Red Bull contract later this year, allowing him to switch to Mercedes or Aston Martin for the new era of F1 beginning in 2026, has become a regular topic in the paddock. Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport agrees with Verstappen's view on Lawson's current challenges. "Red Bull must acknowledge that there’s no perfect driver to pair with Verstappen," journalist Michael Schmidt wrote from China. "Not in the current setup. The Dutchman is too skilled, and the car is too lacking."

      Verstappen, 27, is also becoming more outspoken about Red Bull’s issues. "As a driver, I always evaluate myself first and I tend to be critical," he stated. "I continuously strive to optimize and assist the team in enhancing the car. It’s evident that we are not where we aspire to be." Team advisor Dr. Helmut Marko, however, remains optimistic, stating after qualifying on Saturday: "The gap to McLaren is clearly smaller than we anticipated. It’s now about a tenth when you combine the ideal sector times. So everything is still up for grabs."

      When asked about his chances of winning on Sunday, Verstappen replied: "Only if everyone ahead of me retires. No, honestly. We’re just not fast enough right now. I believe my lap was good, but it was quite challenging due to inconsistent car balance that varied from corner to corner. I can attack through the corners, but sometimes the car's feedback does not align with my inputs, making it tough to navigate every corner perfectly. In the race, the tyres wear out more quickly than those of others, which is obviously not ideal. Overall, I feel quite good about my driving, especially compared to previous years. However, without the necessary pace, there's not much that can be done."

      Verstappen suggested that losing his Red Bull seat might not be catastrophic for Lawson. "If you examine the differences between the two drivers at the other teams, they're much closer to one another," the 27-year-old noted. "This indicates how challenging our car is to handle. Moreover, the gap to the front has widened compared to last year. It's clear that we are not in a favorable position. Am I worried? Yes, I think that's permissible, right? I genuinely believe that Liam would perform better in the Racing Bulls car. I sincerely think so," Verstappen expressed.

      Verstappen’s remarks come at an awkward moment for Red Bull, as CEO Oliver Mintzlaff is in Shanghai for the Chinese GP. The reigning world champion did have positive things to say about Red Bull’s junior team. "They are performing very well," Verstappen said. "They are very close to me. Perhaps that indicates something."