Exposed: 'This is what makes Verstappen's teammates look second rate'

18:51, 25 Aug 2025

A filmmaker with a soft spot for Ronnie Peterson, Gilles Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen and above all, Tazio Nuvolari and Ayrton Senna, is also a diehard Formula One fan since the age of 4 (mid-90's). An avid researcher of the past of Grand Prix Racing since before it was even named F1, and with a thirst for knowledge of the ins and outs of the actuality of the sport, as well as for the technical aspects that define it, is a member of GPblog since 2023, where he has put his love of racing to good use.

Former F1 driver turned Sky Sports pundit, Anthony Davidson, believes there's more than meets the eye to Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.

Speaking in an interview with Dutch Formula 1 Magazine, Davidson exposed the underlying issue with the drivers Red Bull has appointed as Verstappen's teammates.

"Max can drive around the problems, not all of them, but most of them. He finds performance that others can't find and drives at the limit, but not over it.

"Other drivers can't do that. They go over or stay under the limit and the car doesn't like that."

Liam Lawson is one of the RB drivers

'Lawson and Tsunoda are not second-rate drivers'

With Tsunoda now replicating the same dubious performances exhibited by drivers the likes of Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson, Davidson ponders on a sensitive thought in light of the recent leadership change at the top of the Red Bull Racing structure.

"It will be interesting to see if Laurent Mekies (Christian Horner's successor, ed.), manages to put his arm around Yuki and let him be the driver he can be."

Davidson then found the root of Tsunoda's and Lawson's distorted images in the F1 landscape.

"But with this car being so sensitive, it seems like Liam and Yuki are second-rate drivers compared to Max, but they're not."

Read also

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.

Add as a preferred / source on Google

Verstappen earns praise from Williams driver Martins: 'Great to see in an F1 driver'

Interview•

May 28, 20:01

•Nicole Mulder

0

by Nicole Mulder

Jeffrey Herlings on Jett Lawrence vs Haiden Deegan rivalry: 'I already conquered the USA'

General•

May 28, 19:30

•Andrew McLarney

0

by Andrew McLarney

'Hamilton's Ferrari revival continues, as Ben Sulayem seeks FIA term rule change'

Podcast•

May 28, 19:01

•Henry Eccles

0

by Henry Eccles

'Max Verstappen ranked Top 3 among all-time F1 greats amid Raikkonen praise'

F1 News•

May 28, 18:01

•Henry Eccles

4

by Henry Eccles

Krack admits Aston Martin need to 'get our act together' after Canadian GP woes

F1 News•

May 28, 17:01

•Henry Eccles

0

by Henry Eccles

Marc Marquez sends stark MotoGP warning after Alex’s 150mph Barcelona accident

MotoGP•

May 28, 16:30

•Andrew McLarney

0

by Andrew McLarney

Brown weighs up McLaren producing own F1 engine amid possible V8 return

F1 News•

May 28, 16:01

•Henry Eccles

1

by Henry Eccles

Steiner explains why Leclerc still has edge over Hamilton despite Canada podium

F1 News•

May 28, 15:01

•Tobia Elia

0

by Tobia Elia

Pos.	Driver	Team	Points
1	Kimi Antonelli Kimi Antonelli	MercedesMER	131
2	George Russell George Russell	MercedesMER	88
3	Charles Leclerc Charles Leclerc	FerrariFER	75
4	Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton	FerrariFER	72
5	Lando Norris Lando Norris	McLarenMCL	58
6	Oscar Piastri Oscar Piastri	McLarenMCL	48
7	Max Verstappen Max Verstappen	Red Bull RacingRBR	43
8	Pierre Gasly Pierre Gasly	AlpineALP	20
9	Oliver Bearman Oliver Bearman	HaasHAA	18
10	Liam Lawson Liam Lawson	Racing BullsRCB	16
11	Franco Colapinto Franco Colapinto	AlpineALP	15
12	Isack Hadjar Isack Hadjar	Red Bull RacingRBR	14
13	Carlos Sainz Carlos Sainz	WilliamsWIL	6
14	Arvid Lindblad Arvid Lindblad	Racing BullsRCB	5
15	Gabriel Bortoleto Gabriel Bortoleto	AudiAUD	2
16	Esteban Ocon Esteban Ocon	HaasHAA	1
17	Alexander Albon Alexander Albon	WilliamsWIL	1
18	Nico Hulkenberg Nico Hulkenberg	AudiAUD	0
19	Valtteri Bottas Valtteri Bottas	CadillacCAD	0
20	Sergio Perez Sergio Perez	CadillacCAD	0
21	Lance Stroll Lance Stroll	Aston MartinAST	0
22	Fernando Alonso Fernando Alonso	Aston MartinAST	0

Exposed: 'This is what makes Verstappen's teammates look second rate'

'Lawson and Tsunoda are not second-rate drivers'

Read also

Don’t miss GPblog in Google

Former F1 driver sees extra motivation help Verstappen towards victory in Zandvoort

Is Verstappen getting a champion as a new teammate?

Verstappen earns praise from Williams driver Martins: 'Great to see in an F1 driver'

Jeffrey Herlings on Jett Lawrence vs Haiden Deegan rivalry: 'I already conquered the USA'

'Hamilton's Ferrari revival continues, as Ben Sulayem seeks FIA term rule change'

'Max Verstappen ranked Top 3 among all-time F1 greats amid Raikkonen praise'

Krack admits Aston Martin need to 'get our act together' after Canadian GP woes

Marc Marquez sends stark MotoGP warning after Alex’s 150mph Barcelona accident

Brown weighs up McLaren producing own F1 engine amid possible V8 return

Steiner explains why Leclerc still has edge over Hamilton despite Canada podium

Verstappen earns praise from Williams driver Martins: 'Great to see in an F1 driver'

Jeffrey Herlings on Jett Lawrence vs Haiden Deegan rivalry: 'I already conquered the USA'

'Hamilton's Ferrari revival continues, as Ben Sulayem seeks FIA term rule change'

'Max Verstappen ranked Top 3 among all-time F1 greats amid Raikkonen praise'

Popular on GPBlog

Hamilton blown away by race engineer Carlo Santi: 'He’s absolutely awesome'

Antonelli rise sparks worrying warning for Russell: 'He is likely to become the number two driver'

F1 LIVE | Hamilton confident of first Ferrari win, Domenicali backs V8 return

Hamilton and Leclerc react to Ferrari’s first-ever EV: 'I like that electric sound!'

Season

Former F1 driver sees extra motivation help Verstappen towards victory in Zandvoort

Is Verstappen getting a champion as a new teammate?