Yuki Tsunoda expressed confusion after qualifying last for the Spanish Grand Prix. He finished the race in 13th place, a performance that included being lapped by his Red Bull teammate, Max Verstappen. This poor showing marked Tsunoda`s third consecutive race failing to reach the final qualifying segment (Q3).
Since replacing Liam Lawson before the season`s third race in Japan, Tsunoda has accumulated just seven points. Following his qualifying session in Spain, he commented on a notable drop in performance compared to other events, stating, “Suddenly compared to any other Grand Prix I lost performance quite significantly.”
Tsunoda elaborated on the issues, noting, “Since FP1, the amount of grip I had was very low. Something strange was happening.” Despite the team`s best efforts to address the problem, he felt that while they achieved a better balance, it didn`t represent an overall improvement in performance. He added that he was happy with his lap in Q1 and felt confident, but “the grip itself is not following at all. It`s a pretty tough situation.”
Although Tsunoda has shown stronger qualifying performances than Lawson earlier in the season, reaching Q3 in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Miami, his overall contribution hasn`t consistently supported Red Bull and Verstappen`s pursuit of a potential fifth world title.
Red Bull strategically utilized Sergio Perez in certain races during the 2021 and 2022 seasons to aid Verstappen. However, outside of this specific period, none of Verstappen`s subsequent teammates have managed to consistently perform close to his level.
Commentators have pointed out that discussions about Red Bull struggling to find a competitive second driver have been ongoing for seven years, ever since Daniel Ricciardo departed at the end of 2018. They observe that drivers who previously drove the second Red Bull car, such as Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon, have gone on to achieve strong results in other teams. This leads to the suggestion that there might be a fundamental characteristic in the design of the Red Bull car that doesn`t suit other drivers as well as it does Max Verstappen. This situation has been compared to the Michael Schumacher era at Benetton in the 1990s.
The comparison highlights a potential risk for Red Bull: after Schumacher left Benetton, the team`s success significantly diminished. This suggests that if Max Verstappen were to leave, the team might need to completely rethink their car design approach to accommodate other drivers.
Is Isack Hadjar a Potential Solution?
Despite Tsunoda`s recent difficulties, Red Bull has not indicated any immediate plans to replace him, and Max Verstappen has publicly defended his teammate. Verstappen commented on the long-standing issue with the second seat, suggesting it`s not a simple problem and potentially hinting at his own exceptional ability or the nature of the car.
Verstappen, widely regarded as the current premier driver, is known for his ability to handle car setups that many other top drivers find challenging. He prefers a very responsive front end, which often results in the car`s rear being loose – a trait that reduces other drivers` confidence in applying power aggressively.
While Tsunoda has faced struggles, Isack Hadjar has continued to impress in his rookie season with Racing Bulls, achieving solid results in recent races, including sixth in Monaco and seventh in Spain.
Hadjar had the opportunity to test the 2024 Red Bull car late last year and reportedly found it “comfortable” rather than difficult. His aggressive driving style has been noted, leading to speculation about his potential suitability for the demanding role of Verstappen`s teammate at Red Bull.
The theory is that if Hadjar`s driving style is genuinely similar to Verstappen`s, he would have an easier time adapting to a car developed largely to suit Verstappen`s preferences. Red Bull has previously indicated that last year, the car`s development was heavily influenced by Verstappen`s feedback due to Sergio Perez being less forthcoming.
A team principal from Red Bull has praised Hadjar as an outstanding rookie, exceeding expectations with his speed and consistency, suggesting a very bright future if his performance continues. However, it has also been pointed out that Red Bull previously described Liam Lawson as having a driving style similar to Verstappen.
Some advice for Hadjar suggests prioritizing his current position at Racing Bulls rather than rushing to step up to Red Bull, potentially aiming for future drives at teams like Ferrari or Aston Martin. In their qualifying sessions as teammates at Racing Bulls, Hadjar has outperformed Lawson and secured more top-ten finishes.
Why Drivers Might Hesitate Joining Red Bull
Tsunoda is the fifth driver to partner Max Verstappen at Red Bull since Daniel Ricciardo`s voluntary departure for Renault in 2019. The team`s subsequent trials with academy graduates Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon in the second car were relatively brief, lasting only 12 and 26 races, respectively.
Sergio Perez joined in 2021, forming an effective partnership during Red Bull`s return to championship dominance. However, from mid-2023 onwards, the car`s characteristics began presenting recurring challenges for Perez.
Both Gasly and Albon have performed impressively since leaving Red Bull, while Perez might return to the grid next year. The persistent debate around Verstappen`s teammates centers on whether the Dutch driver is simply exceptionally superior or if the car is specifically designed around his unique driving style.
One former F1 world champion described being Verstappen`s teammate as “horrible,” referring to Verstappen as a “team-mate killer.” He noted the significant performance gap, often around six tenths of a second, which is a vast difference in Formula 1. He found it puzzling why the team couldn`t adapt the car more effectively for the second driver, suggesting this highlights just how special Max Verstappen is and that he operates on a different level compared to others.
A Red Bull principal acknowledged Tsunoda`s current difficulties, emphasizing the importance of providing him time, support, and a car setup that builds his confidence. He stated that confidence is crucial and believes Tsunoda has the speed and potential to succeed, just needing to consistently put all the elements together.
Another perspective, drawing parallels to MotoGP where bikes are often uniquely suited to specific riders, offers a slightly different view. This commentator believes that even top F1 drivers might have significant doubts about immediately performing in the Red Bull car. He notes that while F1 drivers are generally expected to be highly adaptable (citing examples like Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri), the Red Bull situation seems an extreme case, akin to historical MotoGP scenarios where only certain riders could master a particular machine.
Therefore, it is considered a risky undertaking for any top driver to join Red Bull due to the car`s apparently extreme demands on a driver`s style.
Marcus Prine