Yuki Tsunoda’s journey with Red Bull is shaping up to be a tale of perseverance amid challenges. The young driver is under the spotlight after being promoted ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.
- Since joining Red Bull Racing, Tsunoda has struggled to make a significant impact in the Constructors’ Championship.
- In Barcelona, he openly discussed the car’s issues, saying it seemed to devour tires and he had no explanations for its poor performance.
- Helmut Marko admits that Tsunoda’s pace is a concern for Red Bull, as the team has slipped in the championship standings.
- Despite speculation about Tsunoda’s future, Marko insists that he needs more time, and Red Bull plans to give him until the end of the season.
Yuki Tsunoda’s career with Red Bull is under intense scrutiny as he navigates through a challenging season. Since replacing Liam Lawson ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, his performance has not met expectations, placing pressure on both him and the team. At the recent Spanish Grand Prix, Tsunoda struggled significantly, with qualifying results placing him last among 20 drivers despite what he considered a solid lap. During the race, he managed to finish 13th, earning only seven points across seven races.
Tsunoda expressed frustration with the performance, stating, ‘Doesn’t really stack up with the results, the pace I’m having,’ and highlighted issues with tire degradation. He admitted uncertainty in pinpointing the car’s limitations, a crucial problem Red Bull needs him to solve urgently.
Helmut Marko, a prominent figure at Red Bull, has voiced concerns about Tsunoda’s pace, which he described as a ‘serious’ issue. The struggles with gaining composure during qualifying and adapting quickly to the car have been detrimental to Red Bull’s standing in the Constructors’ Championship, now trailing significantly behind the top teams. Marko’s commentary reflects the gravity of the situation: ‘We’ve already written off the overall victory, so we don’t have any chance.’
Despite the setbacks, there seems to be a shred of optimism regarding Tsunoda’s tenure with Red Bull. Team mate Max Verstappen came to Tsunoda’s defense at the Spanish Grand Prix, noting, ‘He’s not a pancake, right? When he was in those Racing Bulls, he always looked good compared to Hadjar.’ Verstappen’s words highlight Tsunoda’s previous strong performances in other conditions, suggesting potential yet to be fully realized this season.
Rumors suggesting an early switch to Racing Bulls’ star Isack Hadjar have surfaced, but Helmut Marko insists on giving Tsunoda more time. He emphasized, ‘We assume that he will be in the car until the end of the season.’ His commitment hints at a strategic patience, perhaps hoping to see Tsunoda adapt and thrive over the coming races.
Yuki Tsunoda’s road with Red Bull continues to be a challenging yet hopeful journey, with time as his ally.
