Yuki Tsunoda Faces Tough Review After Another Disappointing Race

Yuki Tsunoda is set to undergo a detailed performance review by Red Bull after a difficult qualifying run at the Spanish Grand Prix. The Japanese driver finished 20th in the first part of qualifying at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, putting him last on the starting grid for Sunday’s race.

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko confirmed that the team will analyze Tsunoda’s recent pace struggles, especially after a significant crash in Imola two weeks ago. Tsunoda’s struggles became clear during the weekend.

On Friday, he was competitive in practice and posted lap times that were close to teammate Max Verstappen’s. However, in qualifying, Tsunoda found little improvement and fell back in the order.

Image credit: www.redbull.com

Marko pointed out that the car Tsunoda used was not identical to Verstappen’s. Due to the aftermath of the Imola crash, Tsunoda’s machine still lacked some of the updated parts, including changes to the underbody and other areas.

The tight supply of spare parts made it challenging to get him up to speed, and Marko admitted the team is still working to fix these differences. The upcoming Spanish Grand Prix is now Tsunoda’s third consecutive race outside the top-10 starting positions.

Despite solid showings in Friday practice sessions throughout the season, his performances have dipped in qualifying, preventing him from converting early promise into strong race weekend results. This repeat pattern is becoming a growing concern for Red Bull as they assess the potential of their drivers for future races and team decisions.

Marko described the overall performance as disappointing, particularly given Tsunoda’s previously strong pace compared to Verstappen in earlier sessions. He remarked that while Verstappen consistently adapts to new setups and climbs the order in key sessions, Tsunoda often takes longer to adjust and struggles to match the improvements of his teammate.

Image credit: www.ticketgrandprix.com

Red Bull’s technical staff and management will now review all related data to understand what is limiting Tsunoda’s qualifying potential and determine whether setup or driver adaptation issues are to blame. Red Bull’s analysis of Tsunoda comes as pressure mounts for strong results in a closely contested Formula 1 season.

After 2025 Spanish Grand Prix qualifying, McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris lead the driver and team standings, with Red Bull currently third in the team points tally at 143. Max Verstappen holds third in the driver table with 136 points, while Tsunoda’s individual ranking lags due to recent results.

Looking ahead, Tsunoda will look for a turnaround in the coming races as Red Bull works to close the gap with front-runners McLaren and Mercedes. The team’s focus will remain on addressing technical challenges and supporting driver adaptation to help maximize performance for the remainder of the season.

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.