Yuki Tsunoda arrives at the F1 Canadian GP this weekend carrying the weight of expectation and the burden of underperformance as his Red Bull Racing future is on edge.
The 25-year-old Japanese driver, promoted to the main Red Bull team after the Chinese GP, has managed just a handful of points from 7 races in the difficult to drive RB21, a stark contrast to the form that earned him his seat upgrade from Racing Bulls and from his teammate, Max Verstappen.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s F1 Canadian GP, Tsunoda was candid about the pressure mounting on his shoulders.
“As long as I don’t really perform myself, I know what’s going to happen and I know myself, it’s not the place I should be,” Tsunoda said in his print media session. “But let’s see. I have confidence that I can come back strong. You guys like to talk about the second seat, about Red Bull, but it is what it is.”
Tsunoda Red Bull struggles mount despite team support
His best finish remains 9th place this season, while teammate Max Verstappen has continued his dominant form over his teammates. This contrast between the two drivers has only magnified Tsunoda’s difficulties, fueling questions about whether the Japanese driver can adapt quickly enough to justify Red Bull’s midseason promotion.
Despite the concerning results, the team appears committed to giving him time to adapt. Red Bull arranged additional factory time at their Milton Keynes headquarters and provided extensive running in the 2023 championship-winning RB19 following the Barcelona race, aimed at improving his Tsunoda F1 performance.
Technical insights from RB19 testing
The comparative testing between the RB19 and RB21 has provided valuable data for Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull development. Speaking about his Barcelona test sessions, Tsunoda offered detailed feedback on the differences between the dominating championship winning and current machinery.
“I had a lot of laps. I tried the RB19, especially driving with exactly the same track as how I also drove in the RB21 race week,” Tsunoda said. “So you can see a clear difference, but using the academy [control for TPC] tires, so it’s a bit different there. I think I was able to give good feedback to them and give some ideas that maybe we can improve or we can take some benefits from the RB19.”
However, he noted the fundamental differences weren’t as dramatic as expected: “But generally, it’s not that huge of a difference, so it’s good. Also the [Pirelli] tire test was for 2026, so I was only focused on the feedback.”
The testing revealed certain “benefits” of the 2023 dominator that Tsunoda would like to see incorporated into the current car, though he emphasized the similarities between the two machines.
Montreal offers Tsunoda a reset opportunity
Yuki Tsunoda views this weekend’s Canadian GP as an opportunity for a fresh start, describing the circuit characteristics as potentially beneficial for his adaptation process and crucial for his Red Bull second seat security.
The Canadian GP has historically provided unexpected results and breakthrough performances for struggling drivers. With three-quarters of the F1 2025 season remaining, Tsunoda still has opportunities to turn his fortunes around.
“I would say partly this kind of track will be the reset; I think my progress in terms of understanding is getting there, but I just need a bit of time to do it actually on the track with driving,” he explained, highlighting the importance of practical track experience.
Tsunoda emphasized his methodical approach to improvement, “It’s always easier to understand by doing it actually on the track. But I’m sure it will come at some point, and the progress is there. So I’m not really rushing it too much yet.”
For Tsunoda, Montreal may prove to be the reset he desperately needs to secure his Red Bull second seat future and demonstrate that his promotion wasn’t premature. The stakes couldn’t be higher for a driver who clearly understands what failure could mean for his Formula 1 career.
