Jess
This story has been told before; Red Bull are going to tell it again.
Following the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull has reiterated its support for Yuki Tsunoda in the second Red Bull seat following his two-week run of no points scored.
Tsunoda started from the pit-lane after set-up changes, following a P20 in qualifying, and ulitmately finished P13.
As a consequence of the lack of points from Tsunoda, Ferrari has now overtaken Red Bull in the constructors’ standings, despite having fewer wins, podiums, and official finishes than Red Bull.
Red Bull Team Boss Christian Horner told F1 Media that the pilot has shown “flashes of performance” with his Q3 appearances and handful of points. Horner insists time will allow Tsunoda to unlock this level of performance on a more consistent basis as his confidence grows.
While no one is expected to ever match Max Verstappen in Red Bull, the two Red Bull pilots qualifying and race pace difference is still a cause for concern. Verstappen recently suggested to F1 Media that it is the car, not any personal problem, that is hindering Tsunoda.
These statements echo a familiar tune from last year when Sergio Perez was in a similar position. Tsunoda’s performance raises several questions, particularly in the context of Red Bull’s historical approach to supporting drivers: Did Sergio Perez deserve to be sacked?
Firstly, If Red Bull is happy to accept lower constructors’ points for flashes of performance, then what Perez did last year fits that bill. He may not have been consistent, but he did score points and multiple podiums across the season. At the same stage of the 2024 season, his points total surpasses the combined totals of both Tsunoda and Liam Lawson.
Although Tsunoda’s age and lesser experience might suggest a higher performance ceiling than Perez’s, potential means little if it doesn’t materialise when the opportunity arises. Thus, it remains unclear whether sacking Perez was the right decision.
Secondly, if higher potential is the key factor, Isaak Hadjar currently stands as a stronger candidate for the second Red Bull seat. He has demonstrated his talent and resilience after his DNS at his debut race. The rookie has qualified for several Q2 and Q3 sessions and scored points in all but three races since then. He now holds P9 in the Driver’s standings with 21 points, 11 points ahead of Tsunoda and 17 points more than his teammate Liam Lawson, who has struggled to keep pace with Hadjar’s speed and consistency.
Hadjar is outperforming a more experienced teammate and a pilot in a faster car, as a rookie. This, along with his impressive resilience from Australia, showcases a skill set the tricky Red Bull seat requires.
Horner dismissed calls for Hadjar’s promotion to Red Bull in the F1 media pen, asserting that there is no reason to promote him prematurely.
This more supportive culture, which emphasizes giving drivers ample time to adapt and perform, likely stems from a hard-learned lesson: throwing a driver into the deep end without sufficient time to perform does not yield a better second driver. However, both Alex Albon and Sergio Perez received similar “support” for their flashes of performance, yet their time at Red Bull still ended prematurely.
This lesson on patience came too late for Lawson, who faced demotion from the Red Bull seat within two races after failing to reach Q2 on both occasions. The lack of alternatives deters a similar move for Tsunoda.
It seems Red Bull has found itself in a familiar predicament of the revolving door. With the prospect of a lower constructors’ position for the 2025 season, these choices may have significant implications for Red Bull’s performance in 2026, leaving fans and analysts alike concerned about the team’s future.
Can Tsunoda find more performance? As Horner says, only time will tell.
