Yuki Tsunoda ended the 2025 season as a world champion's teammate but languished in 17th in the drivers' standings. In stark contrast to Max Verstappen, who won eight grands prix, Tsunoda scored just 30 points. This failure cost him his Formula 1 seat for the following season, and now he speaks out about what really went wrong.
Unfulfilled Expectations
Red Bull's faith in Tsunoda came after Liam Lawson failed to meet expectations in the first two races. Lawson was eliminated in Q1 and scored no points, prompting management to swap him with Tsunoda. At the time, Tsunoda was optimistic about adapting to the Red Bull car's strong front-end grip. "I personally love cars that turn aggressively," he said before his debut. But reality painted a different picture.
Over 27 qualifying sessions, Tsunoda reached Q3 only eight times, was eliminated in Q2 nine times, and dropped out in Q1 ten times. He outqualified Verstappen just once, with an average deficit of 0.6 seconds. His best result was sixth in Baku, while Verstappen amassed 385 points. This ranks among the worst performances by a champion's teammate in modern F1 history.
Mystery Behind the Wheel
On the Beyond The Grid podcast, Tsunoda admitted he still doesn't understand the RB21. "Normally I can understand the car's characteristics, but even after Abu Dhabi I still didn't know what kind of car I was driving," he revealed. He lost confidence in some races and has yet to pinpoint the root cause. His inability to adapt to a car highly sensitive to Verstappen's driving style was a key factor.
Red Bull has a long history of cars that suit only certain drivers. Since Sebastian Vettel's departure, only Verstappen has performed consistently. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez all struggled. Tsunoda is the latest victim of this pattern. The RB21 was designed around Verstappen's preference for a very responsive front end, while Tsunoda was used to understeer from Racing Bulls.
Impact and Lessons
Tsunoda's failure offers a valuable lesson for Red Bull. The team must consider a more adaptive approach for its second driver or seek a driver whose style matches the car's characteristics. Meanwhile, Tsunoda must now seek opportunities elsewhere, perhaps in another category or back at Racing Bulls. Nevertheless, he remains determined to bounce back and prove his worth.
For F1 fans, this story illustrates how difficult it is to be a teammate to a driver of Verstappen's caliber. The pressure and high expectations often destroy young drivers' careers. Tsunoda is not the first, and may not be the last. However, his courage to acknowledge his weaknesses and desire to learn is commendable.
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