The 2025 season has been a real challenge for Yuki Tsunoda, who finished in seventeenth place in the Formula 1 driver standings, alongside his teammate, Max Verstappen, who was crowned champion. This circumstance is unusual for a driver who is part of a team fighting for the title.
Tsunoda’s case is unique. After Sergio Pérez’s release, Red Bull decided to promote Liam Lawson instead of Tsunoda, assuming that the New Zealander might bring in higher potential despite his lack of experience. Lawson, however, failed to stand out and was relegated back to Racing Bulls, allowing Tsunoda to have his opportunity.
Before his debut with Red Bull, Tsunoda expressed confidence about his potential to adapt to the car’s characteristics. ‘Traditionally, Red Bull cars exhibit understeer which has been a challenge for me at first, but I have eventually gotten used to it,’ said the Japanese driver.
However, the results did not meet expectations. Tsunoda failed to achieve any podium finishes, with his best result being a sixth place in Baku. In comparison, Verstappen won eight grand prix, collecting 385 points, while Tsunoda only added 30 points throughout the season.
In 27 qualifying sessions, he managed to make it into Q3 only eight times and, contrary to his faster teammate, Tsunoda struggled to find the connection with the RB21. In his appearance on the _Beyond The Grid_ podcast, he commented: ‘Normally, I know what the car I’m driving feels like, but I haven’t been able to grasp the characteristics of the RB21.’
Tsunoda also reflected on his resistance to modifying his driving style, an aspect he considers crucial: ‘I have enough ego not to change my driving style. Many drivers find it difficult to adapt to Verstappen’s style, which is unique and very different from mine.’ This difficulty affected Tsunoda, who tried to replicate his teammate’s setups, without achieving the expected results.
In his reflection on his departure from Red Bull, Tsunoda expressed that despite the disappointment, he felt a certain relief: ‘It was a stressful year, and when I was informed that I wasn’t continuing, unexpectedly, I felt a certain relief, as if I could finally breathe.’ Nevertheless, he also acknowledged that he has no regrets, as he fought with all his strength throughout the season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
