Yuki Tsunoda Loses Red Bull Spec Again in Monaco After Imola Crash

Yuki Tsunoda is facing another challenge with his Red Bull car setup heading into the Monaco Grand Prix after a heavy crash last weekend at Imola. Tsunoda’s qualifying incident at the Tamburello chicane forced him into the barriers and left his RB21 with significant damage.

Following the crash, the team had no choice but to switch him onto a spare chassis. That move included a new power unit and required a different floor spec from the latest upgrade used by his teammate, Max Verstappen.

At Imola, Verstappen and Tsunoda both had Red Bull’s new floor for qualifying, but Tsunoda damaged his beyond repair. For the streets of Monaco, Tsunoda will return to the older, pre-Miami version of the floor.

He confirmed that this will leave him a step behind in car specification, making his task more complicated this weekend. Tsunoda admitted, “I don’t think we’re going to have a full one [in Monaco], I just made a step back anyway, which is my fault.”

The setback comes after Tsunoda recovered impressively from a pitlane start in the Imola race to finish tenth and score a point. Still, he explained that pushing too hard with new set-up changes and a lack of experience with this year’s Red Bull caught him out during qualifying.

Tsunoda pointed out that in previous years with the VCARB machine, similar mistakes did not happen, showing that this car reacts much more to changes in set-up than he expected. For more on how Formula 1 car setups impact performance, see this FIA technical guide. Preparation for Monaco will look different for Tsunoda as he builds his confidence throughout the weekend.

He said he enjoys racing in Monaco, recalling strong memories from the past two years. The Japanese driver knows that the margin for error is very small on the city circuit, with almost no run-off area, so he plans to build speed gradually instead of pushing from the first lap.

Verstappen has mentioned that the Red Bull is a particularly bumpy car in Monaco, and Tsunoda agrees that adapting to the track and the car’s behavior will take focus and caution. For a deeper look at Monaco’s unique challenges, check out this analysis by Motorsport Engineering at Oxford Brookes University.

Red Bull is supplying both cars with some Monaco-specific updates, including a higher-downforce rear wing, new brake ducts for cooling, and adjustments to the front suspension for better steering at the tightest corners.

However, the difference in the floor remains the key change separating Tsunoda and Verstappen this weekend. Tsunoda said the team, including his race and performance engineers, are working together closely to keep learning with every event.

Now, as the 25-year-old lines up for one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar, he will need to rely on patience and measured driving to maximize his result. The team’s goal will be to close the performance gap and avoid further setbacks while continuing to gather data that could help in future races. For historical context on Monaco Grand Prix performances, visit the official Formula 1 archive.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.