Red Bull’s Strategy for Tsunoda Amidst Challenging Season
Red Bull Racing’s motorsport advisor, Helmut Marko, has confirmed ongoing "intensive discussions" with Yuki Tsunoda, who has struggled to integrate into the RB21 since taking over from Liam Lawson after two races in the 2025 Formula 1 season. Tsunoda has accumulated only seven points over ten races, prompting the team to enhance its support for the Japanese driver.
Marko noted signs of improvement, particularly during the recent British Grand Prix, where Tsunoda’s performance showed potential. “The gap to Max was smaller than before in most free practice sessions,” said Marko. “He qualified eleventh, which is encouraging. We’re working closely with him and utilizing sports psychologists to aid his development.”
Despite their current challenges, Red Bull remains optimistic about the latter part of the season. Marko stated, “While McLaren is strong, we still have 12 races and four sprint events left, amounting to 300 World Championship points and 32 from sprints. We believe improvements can be made, particularly for the Belgian Grand Prix.”
In contrast, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ standings with 234 points, closely followed by teammate Lando Norris at 226. McLaren holds a substantial lead in the constructors’ championship with 460 points, showcasing their strong performance this season.
As Red Bull prepares for the next race at Spa-Francorchamps on July 25-27, Marko emphasized that the title race is not over: “We’re far from writing off the championship.”
