- Marko offers his verdict regarding…..Read More
Following his promotion to Red Bull Racing at the Japanese Grand Prix, Yuki Tsunoda has completed his first three races with the championship-contending team. Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has now weighed in on the young Japanese driver’s performance since joining the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Tsunoda was brought in to replace Liam Lawson just two rounds into the 2025 Formula 1 season, with the move coinciding with Honda’s home race in Japan. Reports suggest that Honda, which supplies power units to Red Bull, contributed €10 million to support Tsunoda’s promotion in time for the event. Teaming up with reigning four-time world champion Max Verstappen, Tsunoda was immediately placed under intense scrutiny and pressure to deliver.
In his debut race for Red Bull at Suzuka, Tsunoda qualified in 14th and made modest progress to finish 12th, while teammate Verstappen secured victory. At the next round in Bahrain, Tsunoda showed signs of improvement, finishing ninth and collecting his first points for the team. His third outing in Saudi Arabia saw a more promising qualifying performance, placing eighth on the grid. However, his race ended prematurely due to a first-lap collision with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, which caused terminal damage to his car.
Reflecting on Tsunoda’s adaptation to Red Bull, Marko acknowledged that the 24-year-old has shown potential but still has areas requiring development. “In free practice, where there’s less pressure, he tends to be two or three tenths off the pace. That’s something none of our other drivers have really struggled with,” said Marko. “In qualifying, he sometimes overdrives, but he is progressing and delivering points when possible.”
Marko emphasized the need for Tsunoda to improve under pressure, especially during qualifying sessions. He also drew comparisons between Tsunoda and Verstappen’s approaches, highlighting the Dutch driver’s ability to build confidence methodically over the race weekend, a trait Tsunoda is still learning to master.
Tsunoda himself admitted there is room to grow, particularly in harnessing confidence at key moments. “Max builds up his confidence over the week. For me, it’s different—I’m still working on how to unlock that performance in qualifying,” Tsunoda explained. “I know I can’t beat Max immediately, but I’m focusing on building a strong baseline and waiting for the right moment to really challenge him.”
Overall, both Marko and Tsunoda appear optimistic about his future within the team, suggesting that with continued improvement, he could secure a long-term place alongside Verstappen.
