Nico Rosberg fuels suspicions over Red Bull’s second seat: does Max Verstappen have a different car?. Nico Rosberg questions the Red Bull second seat after Monza.

Rosberg voices doubts about the Red Bull second seat

The debate surrounding Max Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull has once again resurfaced, this time with Nico Rosberg weighing in. The 2016 Formula 1 World Champion commented on Yuki Tsunoda’s recent performances compared to Verstappen, noting the significant gap in lap times between the two drivers — a scenario that has repeatedly occurred at Milton Keynes.

The Japanese driver was promoted to the main team for his home Grand Prix, but since then he has struggled to replicate even the solid results he previously achieved with the Racing Bulls. In contrast, Liam Lawson, who replaced him in the past, had managed to deliver strong performances once more when given the chance.

Nico Rosberg’s analysis

Speaking live on Sky Sports F1 after the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Nico Rosberg addressed the ongoing Red Bull issue. While Max Verstappen secured another victory ahead of the McLarens, his teammate finished only thirteenth, outside the points. The gap had also been evident in qualifying, where Yuki Tsunoda once again trailed significantly behind Verstappen.

The former Mercedes driver underlined the persistent problem for the Austrian team: “It has been happening for years now. Once again Yuki is seven tenths slower than Max. It’s inexplicable. I don’t understand it because Yuki is good, he knows how to drive a racing car. How can it be that he is so far behind again?”

Rosberg’s comments seemed to suggest that Verstappen’s car might not be entirely identical to Tsunoda’s. While this remains a suspicion for many observers, insiders close to Max Verstappen have repeatedly explained that the Dutchman’s unmatched driving style is the real difference. The reigning champion has the unique ability to extract pace from a car that is often described as nervous and extremely demanding through the corners.