Yuki Tsunoda’s crisis in Red Bull
Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls, has openly admitted his surprise at the difficulties his former driver, Yuki Tsunoda, is currently experiencing in the Red Bull Formula 1 team. The Japanese driver, who has been competing in Formula 1 since 2021, had been promoted from the team’s Faenza-based sister outfit to Milton Keynes this season, yet results have so far fallen far short of expectations.
Promotion to Red Bull
In April, following only two race weekends that produced results below expectations, Red Bull decided not to continue the remainder of the 2025 season with Liam Lawson, the New Zealand driver who had moved from Racing Bulls to Red Bull to temporarily replace Sergio Perez. As a result, Lawson returned to the Faenza-based Racing Bulls team, while the more experienced Yuki Tsunoda, who had always driven the Faenza car since his debut in 2021, was promoted to the Red Bull team for the remainder of the season.
Struggling results
However, even for Tsunoda, the current Formula 1 season has proven challenging. Since the Japanese Grand Prix, marking the start of his tenure at Red Bull, the 20-year-old has scored only 7 points, placing him 18th in the provisional driver standings. In addition to four consecutive eliminations in Q1 over the last four Grands Prix, Tsunoda’s best race finish remains ninth place in Bahrain, excluding the sixth-place result he achieved in the Miami Sprint race.
Unexplained challenges
These underwhelming performances have already sparked speculation about a potential return to Racing Bulls during the 2025 season, although Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has reiterated the team’s intention to continue with Tsunoda until the end of the year, while also acknowledging dissatisfaction with the results achieved.
Peter Bayer, who knows the full potential of his former driver, has expressed his bewilderment at Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles in Milton Keynes. “Yes, I would be lying if I said I’m not surprised,” Bayer said in an interview with PlanetF1. “I have seen his potential and his physical preparation; he was stronger than ever. But why it’s so difficult for him right now, honestly I don’t know. He probably just needs time. Red Bull is much harder to drive. Our car is more forgiving, but not as fast.”
The challenge of adapting to Red Bull
Bayer’s comments underline a key aspect of Formula 1: the difference between cars can significantly impact a driver’s performance. While Racing Bulls has historically produced cars that are easier to handle and more forgiving on mistakes, Red Bull’s highly sophisticated and aerodynamically demanding machinery requires an extremely precise driving style. This adaptation period can be challenging even for experienced and physically fit drivers like Yuki Tsunoda.
Bayer’s observations also highlight the psychological and technical pressures associated with stepping up to a top-tier team. Drivers must quickly acclimate to a new engineering philosophy, advanced car systems, and the heightened expectations that come with representing one of the most successful teams in modern Formula 1 history.
As the 2025 season progresses, all eyes will remain on Yuki Tsunoda to see whether he can translate his evident talent and preparation into consistent results at Red Bull. The Japanese driver has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, and both Racing Bulls and Red Bull remain confident that with time, he can adapt to the team’s demanding car and unlock his full potential on the world stage.
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