In just a few hours, we will see the first results of the decision made by Helmut Marko and Christian Horner. Yuki Tsunoda will take to the track with Red Bull at Suzuka, marking his first weekend as Max Verstappen’s teammate. It’s a challenging role—one that, in recent years, has caused several drivers to lose confidence in themselves.
Sergio Perez first, then Liam Lawson—two drivers who, despite showing talent and speed on multiple occasions, ultimately struggled under the pressure of competing alongside the four-time world champion. Verstappen, as he has once again demonstrated at the start of the 2025 season, has the ability to extract more performance from the car than it seemingly possesses, making comparisons unfavorable for his teammates.
Yuki Ready for the Challenge with Max
Ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend at Suzuka, Yuki Tsunoda shared his initial impressions of Red Bull and his early interactions with Max Verstappen. “With the experience I’ve gained, I can get a sense of things as soon as I get in the car. I usually don’t ask too many questions and try to clear up my doubts with the team,” said the Japanese driver. “My race engineer helps me a lot and has already given me plenty of information about the car’s issues. I have everything in my head—now it’s just a matter of seeing what the track says.”
Tsunoda also spoke about his first interactions with Verstappen as teammates. “We haven’t talked much about the car. Honestly, I don’t expect him to be completely honest when I ask him something. It’s up to me to read the telemetry and understand how he drives,” the former VCARB driver added. “From my first laps in the simulator, I haven’t noticed any major issues. A lot will depend on my driving style and how the car responds on track.”
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