Yuki Tsunoda’s time at Red Bull Racing has not been smooth, with only nine points since his promotion. Red Bull’s Helmut Marko has identified the upcoming Mexican Grand Prix as a critical point for Tsunoda’s performance. As Marko sets expectations high, Tsunoda acknowledges that the next three races will be vital for his future at the team.
Key Focus: Improving Race Pace
Tsunoda’s qualifying performance has been commendable, but race pace continues to be a challenge. Speaking before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Tsunoda reflected on his progress and areas for growth. “I need to focus on the long runs, especially for now,” Tsunoda admitted. His qualifying efforts, such as reaching Q3 in Monza, have been positive, but race day performances have not matched the same level of consistency.
While Yuki Tsunoda has expressed satisfaction with his qualifying pace, he acknowledges the need to improve during the full race distance. “In Monza, I had a bit of damage, but as a team we also work hard to understand what’s the main issue causing the long run pace,” Tsunoda explained. He emphasized that the team is focused on finding solutions to improve the car’s performance over longer stints.
Damage and Unexplained Issues Impacting Performance
Race weekends, however, have painted a different picture. In Monza, Tsunoda finished over 80 seconds behind Max Verstappen, even after accounting for race damage. “What I heard is that the damage was less than three tenths per lap, but as I said, we were struggling anyway,” Tsunoda shared. The unexplained issues forced Tsunoda to experiment with the car’s setup, which wasn’t ideal for the team’s overall performance.
With tyre wear being a persistent challenge, Tsunoda revealed that the team struggled to pinpoint the cause. “Until FP3, what we tried was to find out what was causing the tyre wear issue, but we couldn’t find it, so we just had to adjust the balance,” Tsunoda noted. Despite these adjustments, it was clear that the excessive tyre wear compromised his race pace.
A Crucial Period for Tsunoda’s Future at Red Bull
Tsunoda’s performance in the upcoming race weekends will be crucial. “I’m just lacking in the long runs. We are working really hard, both from my side and also from the team’s side, to put everything together,” Tsunoda said, determined to find a breakthrough. With the Mexican GP approaching, the next three races could determine whether Tsunoda secures a long-term spot at Red Bull Racing or faces a potential exit.
As Isack Hadjar is seen as a strong contender for a future promotion to the senior team in 2026, Tsunoda’s current performance is under intense scrutiny. His race pace improvements could define his F1 career trajectory, making the next few weekends even more critical.
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