Yuki Tsunoda Reveals Frustration After Red Bull Setback

Yuki Tsunoda was harsh on himself after a tough weekend at the Monaco Grand Prix. The Red Bull-affiliated driver was the only one in the Red Bull family to finish without scoring a point.

Tsunoda showed early promise in the first two practice sessions but ran into trouble during qualifying. He was once again eliminated in Q2, ending up in 12th.

Image credit: www.planetf1.com

That position made things difficult from the start, as opportunities on Monaco’s tight circuit are always rare. The beginning of the race set the tone for Tsunoda’s struggles.

He was hit by Pierre Gasly in the opening laps, leaving him stuck behind a long line of cars. This “train” on the Circuit de Monaco meant Tsunoda was unable to make up places, and he crossed the finish line 17th, far outside the points.

Teammates at Racing Bulls and Williams worked together ahead of him, making it even harder to find any openings. Tsunoda admitted fault, saying he put himself in a bad spot by not qualifying well enough, knowing that teams ahead would play strategy games to block his progress.

Tsunoda summed up his Monaco GP by saying it was the “longest race ever.” He explained to the media that starting so far back on a street circuit left few strategic options.

In his words, with Racing Bulls and Williams fielding two cars each just up the road, he expected team tactics and games. He took the blame for putting himself in that situation, insisting he had to find a way to do better in qualifying to avoid a repeat.

Reflecting on the weekend, Tsunoda was frustrated his pace in practice didn’t lead to a strong result on Sunday. He said the car felt good until FP3, but when it counted in qualifying, it just got “messy.” This builds on recent challenges he has faced, similar to those discussed in Tsunoda abuse Imola.

He admitted he pushed too hard at times and didn’t get everything together, describing the session as frustrating and disappointing. Despite the sour result, he tried to focus on the small positive that, until qualifying, he felt speed in the car.

Image credit: www.japantimes.co.jp

This result keeps Tsunoda behind his Red Bull teammates, who again finished in the points. The latest race also leaves him still searching for consistency through the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Monaco is famous for its difficult, narrow track where overtaking is rare, and Sunday’s race only highlighted that reality. Tsunoda acknowledged that, especially in Monaco, a poor qualifying almost guarantees a tough race day, since it’s so hard to pass or gain ground through strategy alone.

The Red Bull group will be eager to bounce back as the Formula 1 season continues. Next, the tour heads to Spain on June 1, before visits to Canada and Austria later in the month.

For Tsunoda, the focus will be on fixing his qualifying laps and turning promising practice pace into actual race results. As the fight for the team and driver standings continue, any missed opportunity can hurt. Recent discussions on Kvyat RB21 title potential highlight how critical every point is for drivers in the Red Bull sphere.

With McLaren leading the teams on 319 points and Tsunoda’s team behind on 143, every point matters in a season packed with close competition. For more insights into Formula 1 standings and team dynamics, you can explore the official FIA website.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.