Yuki Tsunoda disappoints again: when will the turning point come?
It was another bitter weekend for Yuki Tsunoda at Monza, where he crossed the finish line in thirteenth place. The Japanese driver’s struggles continue, and the result felt even more painful when compared to Max Verstappen’s dominant victory. After sixteen races this season, Tsunoda has collected only 12 points in total. A worrying figure that leaves him in the lower part of the standings.
The situation shows no signs of improvement
What makes matters worse is that even the rookies are ahead of him. All the newcomers on the 2025 grid have scored more points than Tsunoda, despite this being their debut season. His unexpected promotion within the Red Bull system had initially guaranteed him a period of adaptation, but that phase is now long over.
On several occasions, Yuki Tsunoda has appeared worried and at times restless due to his lack of confidence in the RB21. Very few setup solutions have allowed him to feel comfortable behind the wheel, and as a result he has struggled to deliver consistent performance on track. With the latest upgrades—identical to those fitted on Verstappen’s car—Tsunoda is officially out of excuses. He must quickly prove he deserves his seat before Red Bull’s leadership decides to hand it to someone else.
One example is Isack Hadjar, who managed to climb onto the podium at the recent Dutch Grand Prix. The French rookie is showing both speed and consistency, qualities that Yuki Tsunoda has been unable to demonstrate this year. With Laurent Mekies now serving as Red Bull team principal—and formerly Tsunoda’s boss at Racing Bulls—the Japanese driver has found an old mentor again, but this does not guarantee him a future within the team.
The Italian Grand Prix setback
During Sunday’s race at Monza, contact with another car complicated Yuki Tsunoda’s push toward the points. It was a frustrating situation, but he has not given up hope. “After such a positive start to the weekend, it was very frustrating to have an incident that caused so much damage to the floor of my car, especially when I should have been fighting for points. We had been really fast overall, but once I picked up the damage, my pace was no longer there.”
He added: “After a race like today, you just need to pick yourself up and focus on the positives, like the qualifying lap. Of course I am disappointed, but you have to keep fighting and believe in yourself.”
Looking ahead
The time for excuses is running out. With young talents ready to take his place and Red Bull becoming increasingly demanding, every race is now a decisive test. Yuki Tsunoda has determination and natural speed, but he needs concrete results if he wants to secure a long-term future in Formula 1. Starting from Baku, he must convince the Red Bull hierarchy once again. The question is: will he manage to do it?
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