The start of the 2025 season was challenging for Red Bull, as the team struggled to match the pace of other top contenders. Now, however, Verstappen is back in the hunt for the Drivers’ Championship, while Red Bull has the potential to climb back to second place in the Constructors’ standings. The team’s new technical approach has delivered results, even if they have not yet reached the level of dominance seen in 2023. Despite the difficulties earlier in the year, Red Bull remains the second-most successful team so far in terms of race wins, behind only McLaren.
While Verstappen has faced some challenges in fully dominating races this year, Yuki Tsunoda has understandably suffered even more, scoring only a handful of points in the early part of the season. Things began to change in Baku, however, where the Japanese driver managed to secure a solid sixth-place finish. Despite this improvement, Yuki Tsunoda remains under pressure, with rumors swirling that he could be replaced by Isack Hadjar. No decisions have been officially made yet, but Verstappen has hinted that the Japanese driver’s position could be secured now that the car’s setup has reached a more stable balance.
Verstappen’s insights on Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull’s progress
Max Verstappen indicated that Yuki Tsunoda could show stronger performances on track thanks to the team’s recent technical developments. Verstappen suggested that this progress could convince team management that Yuki Tsunoda is capable of keeping the second seat at Red Bull for the next season.
When asked what made the car so difficult to handle for much of the season, Verstappen admitted, “It’s hard to say.” He elaborated: “Throughout the season we had some uncertainties with the setup, but now I feel like the car’s behavior is starting to become more consistent. I hope this will help both of us, because it’s not always easy to get into the car when it doesn’t respond the way you want, or when conditions are unpredictable.”
Verstappen also emphasized the competitiveness of the current F1 grid: “With such a tightly packed field, even a one- or two-tenth difference can be the difference between reaching Q2 or being eliminated in Q1. Right now it’s a very, very competitive group.”
He concluded with optimism for the upcoming races: “So now, in the next few events, I hope the car stays within a more stable window. And this will help both of us.”
Red Bull’s recent resurgence could be critical not only for Verstappen’s championship ambitions but also for maintaining team stability and confidence in Yuki Tsunoda’s abilities. With the car’s balance improving, the Japanese driver may finally have the opportunity to maximize his performance and secure his future with the Austrian squad.
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