Yuki Tsunoda feels encouraged by his recent performances, particularly as he has closed the gap to his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen in qualifying sessions. Despite being labeled the "worst" Verstappen teammate by Jacques Villeneuve, Tsunoda is determined to disprove this opinion.
At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Tsunoda was eliminated in the first qualifying round, finishing just under two and a half tenths slower than Verstappen. However, with the arrival of new floor upgrades before the Spa qualifying, Tsunoda saw a significant boost in speed. Unfortunately, his strong qualifying was overshadowed by Red Bull’s weakest race of the year, where Verstappen could only finish ninth after struggling to pass Liam Lawson from Racing Bulls.
Looking at the season so far, Tsunoda remains optimistic. He highlighted the impact of the new floor upgrades, saying they have substantially improved his car’s performance. "On paper, the gap to Max is just a few tenths, and I’m not sure many others can get closer to him," Tsunoda said after the Hungarian race. He plans to use the summer break to analyze and fix mistakes in the simulator, aiming to come back stronger in the season’s second half.
Following his early exit in qualifying, Tsunoda started the race from the pit lane. Overtaking was tough, and he finished 17th, compounded by damage to his front wing during the race. "Once the front wing was damaged, our race was essentially over," Tsunoda explained. The dislodging of the gurney flap during the race significantly reduced his pace and grip, limiting strategic options.
Since joining Red Bull, Tsunoda has scored just three points, with his best result being ninth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Fan Take: Tsunoda’s progress highlights the fierce competition within Red Bull and signals that even rising talents can close the gap with top drivers like Verstappen. For racing fans, this development adds excitement to the sport, suggesting more intense battles and the potential for fresh faces to challenge established champions.
