Tsunoda: “Verstappen is back in the title fight, I’ll help however I can”
The Japanese driver spoke ahead of the Lusail weekend in Qatar, outlining his intentions despite recent struggles.
The points drought continues for Yuki Tsunoda
The sudden reopening of the Drivers’ Championship, with Max Verstappen now just 24 points behind Lando Norris and two races plus a Sprint remaining, has naturally sparked social media jokes about Yuki Tsunoda’s potential role in the season finale. The Red Bull driver’s nationality has inspired humorous collages and montages referencing the Japanese air force during World War II, though these are darkly ironic and meant to amuse rather than offend, given the historical seriousness of the events they reference.
Setting humor aside, it remains difficult to imagine Yuki Tsunoda realistically challenging Lando Norris, considering his recent form. The Japanese driver has gone three consecutive races without scoring points and has frequently been eliminated in Q1.
Tsunoda ready to support Verstappen in Qatar
Looking ahead to the Lusail GP, Yuki Tsunoda emphasized that he is ready to serve the team and assist Max Verstappen wherever possible. “Max is really back in the title fight, and I’ll be there to support him in this battle however I can,” said Yuki Tsunoda. “With a bit of luck, I hope to have a more positive weekend. I believe that if everything goes well, I’ll have the pace and performance needed to deliver the results the Team deserves. At Austin, the Sprint format worked really well for me, so I hope this time goes smoothly, and that I can put in a good qualifying and a good race. We’ll need to work together to achieve this goal.” – the Japanese driver concluded ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.
Whether Yuki Tsunoda can fight near the front remains to be seen, but his willingness to put team orders first if the opportunity arises is now out in the open as Red Bull chase a miracle comeback in the final rounds of 2025.
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