Following a disappointing qualifying performance at the Spanish Grand Prix where his teammate finished last, Max Verstappen came to the defense of Yuki Tsunoda, stating that the young Japanese driver “isn`t a pancake.”
Finding a consistent and effective teammate for the four-time reigning world champion Verstappen has been a challenge for Red Bull, particularly since Sergio Perez`s form declined significantly early last season.
After Perez was replaced at the end of 2024 by Liam Lawson from Racing Bulls, Tsunoda quickly took over from Lawson just two races into the 2025 season.
While Tsunoda has shown moments of potential, he has largely struggled this season, earning only seven points over six races. In the same period, Verstappen has achieved two victories and two additional podium finishes.
Before Perez, Verstappen`s teammates included Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. Both drivers were eventually moved on by Red Bull after finding it difficult to match the Dutchman`s pace, although they have since established themselves as respected drivers elsewhere in the sport.
When Dutch reporters questioned Verstappen about Tsunoda`s struggles during the Barcelona qualifying session on Saturday, he commented: “Yuki isn`t a pancake. This situation [with the second Red Bull driver] has been ongoing for a long time.”
He added, “Maybe that’s a sign. Of what? That you can decide yourself.”
The precise meaning behind Verstappen`s comments is open to interpretation. They could suggest his own exceptional skill level, indicate specific difficulties with Red Bull`s car setup that only he can manage, or perhaps a combination of both factors.
Verstappen is widely considered the leading driver on the current grid and is known for his unique ability to handle car characteristics and setups that many other top drivers find challenging.
Tsunoda: “It`s a pretty tough situation”
Tsunoda appeared disheartened after his early exit from qualifying. He admitted that he was initially “happy” with his qualifying lap, only to find out it was the slowest time recorded.
His Q1 time was six-tenths of a second slower than his teammate`s effort, which saw Verstappen progress to qualify in third place.
Speaking to reporters, the Japanese driver said: “Suddenly, compared to any other Grand Prix, I lost performance quite significantly.”
“Since FP1, the amount of grip I had was very low. Something strange was happening,” he explained.
He continued, “We tried our best to resolve the issue, but frankly, whatever adjustments we made improved the balance but didn`t result in an overall step forward in performance.”
“I was pretty happy with the lap I did in Q1, the confidence felt good, but the actual grip just wasn`t there. It`s a pretty tough situation.”
During Q1, Tsunoda had asked his team to check the car`s floor after running over a kerb, but he was unsure immediately after the session whether potential damage had played a role in his lack of pace.
He further stated: “It`s difficult to say. I`ll need to see if there`s any damage. I don`t think our ride height was excessively low; it seemed within acceptable limits.”
He concluded, “There was no pace right from the start of the weekend, so it wasn`t a sudden loss of performance. I`m finding things difficult at the moment.”
In Red Bull`s official post-session press release, team principal Christian Horner admitted that Tsunoda`s difficulties in Spain were “difficult to understand.”
Horner commented: “Yuki has struggled throughout the weekend. We increased the downforce slightly to try and assist him, but it remains difficult to comprehend; we will need to investigate further.”
Marcus Prine