NASCAR driver Shane van Gisbergen made a joke about Red Bull Racing’s brutal driver handlings.
Gisbergen got his maiden win in Mexico over the past weekend after struggling in his first full-time NASCAR Cup Series season.
He only made the top ten once in the first 15 races. He struggled to adapt to the ovals that feature so prominently in the American racing series.
Gisbergen – a New Zealander sponsored by Red Bull – started in pole position in the Mexico City Cup Series race.
His win was anything but smooth; he battled shifting conditions due to the inconsistent rain and a never-ending series of caution flags.
Despite all of the challenges, Gisbergen managed to pull off the win, staying calm, cool, and collected throughout the race.
After his landmark win, he thanked Trackhouse Racing for their continued support of him despite his struggles.
He made a cheeky remark about the support he received during his downturn in form, comparing it to what Red Bull offered fellow New Zealander Liam Lawson.
“I’m glad I didn’t drive for Red Bull F1 after how the first few rounds went,” van Gisbergen joked after the race.
“[Team boss] Justin [Marks] has been amazing, supporting me and just giving me all the time I need and not putting pressure on [me]. It’s been really cool.”
Red Bull’s F1 team decided to axe Lawson after only two races, a drastic decision that followed a series of underwhelming results.
When Lawson made an Instagram post back in March about his removal from Red Bull, van Gisbergen left a message under the post saying, “Prove em Wrong!”
The 36-year-old New Zealander mentored his fellow countryman and backed Lawson through different racing series.
While trying to make it in America, van Gisbergen still monitored Lawson’s progress.
“The way he’s gotten to F1 has been a little difficult the last couple of years. But seeing him get this opportunity full-time now, I’m just stoked and so proud,” he said back in December.
“You’ve got to be versatile, which is something I’ve always tried to do by driving a bunch of different cars. It helps you when it comes to something new in the setup, something technical, or even with the weather changing. You’ve got to be able to adapt straight away.
“Liam’s been exceptional at that. Even when F1 wasn’t working out, he did DTM and other racing that I think has really helped him.”
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