Verstappen demolished teammate after teammate: is Lawson next?

This is how Verstappen fared in his first F1 season

In 2015, Verstappen made his debut in Formula 1 for Toro Rosso. His teammate is Carlos Sainz. Whereas Verstappen has one year of experience in formula cars, Sainz has been driving around for years hoping to get the chance from Red Bull. That experience mainly shows in qualifying that year, where Sainz is the better of Verstappen. The duel ends 9-7 in Sainz's favour, with an average difference of 0.192s.

Compared to Sainz, however, Verstappen makes the difference in the races. Max scores 49 points, more than double the 18 points scored by Sainz. Especially with the two fourth places in Hungary and Austin, Verstappen stands out and even earns a promotion to Red Bull Racing in 2016. The Austrian team sees more potential in Max and chooses him as the replacement for the disappointingly performing Daniil Kvyat.

Verstappen versus Daniel Ricciardo

The fifth race of the 2016 Formula 1 season is when Verstappen makes his debut at Red Bull Racing. The Dutchman's debut is masterful, as Verstappen even manages to win the race in Barcelona. However, it will not be a walk over for Verstappen against Daniel Ricciardo. In the rest of the season, Ricciardo scores 26 more points and mostly finishes ahead of his teammate.

In 2017, Verstappen starts his first full season for Red Bull Racing. The Dutchman then begins to show his quality in qualifying by winning the duel over Ricciardo 13-7. The average difference between the two is then 0.313s. However, Ricciardo still scores the most points. Verstappen loses a lot of points due to reliability issues, leaving Ricciardo with 200 versus 168 points, finishing one place higher in the championship.

In 2018, Verstappen really builds a gap to his Australian teammate. In the qualifying duel, it is less and less of a fight. Verstappen wins 14-5 and an average difference of 0.433s. In the races too, Verstappen outpaces his teammate this time. Max finishes fourth with 249 points, Ricciardo finishes sixth in the championship with 170 points. Ricciardo leaves for Renault, after which he never really gets back to his old self.

Pierre Gasly's brief period

Due to Ricciardo's sudden departure, Pierre Gasly is promoted to Red Bull Racing after just one year in Toro Rosso. It turns out to be too early. Gasly is driven circles around by Verstappen on a weekly basis, with the Frenchman making mistake after mistake. In the winter test alone, Gasly writes off two test days by putting his car in the wall.

After the Hungarian Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing has seen enough: Gasly is ousted. Alexander Albon, after making his Formula E debut six months before, gets a chance at Red Bull Racing after six months at Toro Rosso. Albon is a lot calmer, makes fewer mistakes, but the Thai driver also struggles to keep up with the fast Verstappen.

In 2019, Verstappen is on average seven tenths faster than his teammate. A huge gap, which also manifests itself in the races. Verstappen scores 278 points on his own, enough for 67% of Red Bull Racing's total points combined.

Albon gets another full season to prove himself in 2020, but does not manage to get any closer to Max. Verstappen wins the qualifying duel 17-0 and an average difference of 0.597s, scoring a total of 214 points against Albon's 105. The Thai driver is also thanked for the services rendered by Red Bull management.

Perez as Max Verstappen's teammate

For 2021, Red Bull Racing opts for Sergio Perez, after the Mexican had been asked to leave by Racing Point during the previous season. Despite having a contract, Perez has to make way for Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull Racing makes good use of it, picking up the veteran driver for free.

Anyone thinking of Perez in 2021 thinks mainly of his role in the title race in Abu Dhabi. However, it is pretty much his only feat that year. Perez does not come into his own in qualifying and races. Verstappen wins the qualifying duel 21-1 with an average margin of 0.433s. Perez scores 190 points against Verstappen's 395.5. Again, 68 per cent of the points come from Verstappen.

In 2022, Perez will no longer have the excuse that he does not know the car, when the rules will be completely overhauled. It is reflected in the results. Perez wins races, gets slightly closer in qualifying and scores 305 points against Verstappen's 454. Perez has a bigger share, but Red Bull's car is also very dominant that year. That Perez does not finish second in the drivers' championship is a minor blemish on his season. Perez does get offered a new contract early in the season until 2024.

That confidence in Perez seems misplaced in 2023 when his form plummets. The Mexican starts the season well, even thinks aloud about the title for a while, only to be completely demolished by Verstappen. The qualifying gap rises again to four tenths. Perez comes second among the drivers, but it cannot be called a great achievement. Indeed, Verstappen becomes world champion, with enough points to become constructors' champion himself. Perez comes just short of second, with a 33% share of total points.

Early 2024 continues on that line. Verstappen wins, with Perez trailing far behind. As the competition manages to close the gap, Perez falls further and further back. However, Red Bull shockingly renews deal for Perez, locking him in with the team until at least 2025. Christian Horner hopes the new deal will give confidence to Perez, but he is spiraling down beyond control. Verstappen becomes world champion, while Perez finishes eighth among drivers, causing Red Bull Racing to miss out on the Constructors' title. Verstappen also wins the qualifying duel overwhelmingly: 21-1 with an average margin of 0.498s.

A new era for Red Bull Racing

Despite the new deal for Perez, Red Bull Racing will still say goodbye to the Mexican and his sponsors. It will have cost a hefty sum of money, but Liam Lawson is the new man alongside Max Verstappen. With 11 F1 Grands Prix to his name, Lawson is not the most experienced name, but according to Horner and Marko, he is the most stable of the two Racing Bulls drivers. Yuki Tsunoda is passed over.