Tsunoda hints at Verstappen Red Bull li…..read more
Yuki Tsunoda has stirred up intrigue within the Red Bull camp after suggesting he won’t be fully relying on Max Verstappen’s feedback about the RB21, the team’s 2025 challenger. Tsunoda, who recently joined Red Bull Racing, made his debut as Verstappen’s team-mate during his home Grand Prix in Japan. His promotion came after just two races into the season, replacing Liam Lawson, who had struggled to deliver results in the opening rounds.
Tsunoda’s remarks suggest a desire to form his own interpretation of the car’s performance and setup, rather than merely adapting to Verstappen’s feedback or driving style. This stance comes amid growing speculation that Red Bull’s machinery, especially in recent years, has been tailored heavily to suit Verstappen’s unique and aggressive driving characteristics. Both Lawson and former team-mate Sergio Perez have had difficulty replicating Verstappen’s performance levels, raising questions about whether the car is too one-dimensional in its setup.
Verstappen has had a strong start to the 2025 season and currently sits second in the drivers’ standings. Despite his early success, he made headlines when he described the RB21 as “difficult to drive” – a comment that raised eyebrows when he went on to dominate and win in Japan. This has added to the perception that the Dutchman has a knack for extracting performance from even a challenging car, something his team-mates have failed to consistently do.
Liam Lawson’s brief stint behind the wheel of the RB21 was unremarkable, as he failed to score any points across his two race weekends. This lack of success further reinforces the narrative that only Verstappen seems capable of maximizing the car’s potential. Some believe that Verstappen’s comments about the car being tricky to handle may serve as a psychological advantage or even a misdirection.
In this context, Tsunoda’s choice to carve out his own approach could be both a strategic move and a subtle criticism. By distancing himself from total reliance on Verstappen’s input, Tsunoda appears to be seeking a more personalized understanding of the RB21, potentially hoping to uncover performance areas overlooked by a car setup focused around one driver.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Tsunoda to see if his independent strategy yields results, or if he too finds himself grappling with the same challenges that hindered his predecessors. His comments could signal a growing desire within Red Bull for greater adaptability in their car design, or at least a broader approach to driver input and performance potential.
