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Red Bull Racing’s driver lineup has come under fire from former F1 driver and current FIA steward Derek Warwick, who believes the team made a critical misstep in handing Yuki Tsunoda the coveted second seat. Warwick didn’t hold back in his assessment, calling the decision a “disaster” and suggesting that Sergio Perez’s departure may have been a mistake.
Red Bull's gamble with Yuki Tsunoda
After a turbulent 2024 season, Red Bull parted ways with Sergio Perez, who had played a significant role in securing back-to-back Constructors’ Championships alongside Max Verstappen. In his place, the team experimented with reserve driver Liam Lawson, but his underwhelming performances — including back-to-back last-place qualifications in China — led to an abrupt exit after just two races.
Tsunoda, who had long awaited a chance in Red Bull’s main outfit, was brought in as a replacement. Initially seen as an upgrade over Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda’s performance has quickly unraveled, culminating in two Q1 exits over the last three Grand Prix weekends. His recent crash in Imola and a dismal qualifying in Barcelona, where he clocked the slowest time of all, have only deepened concerns.
Warwick’s scathing review
Warwick, who served as a steward at the Miami Grand Prix, pulled no punches when analyzing Red Bull’s current predicament.
“I think Red Bull needs to try and find a way of making that second car fast, because quite clearly driving the same car as Max does not work,” he said. “They put every driver through there. We all know that Yuki’s quick, [but] he’s had a disaster.”
The former racer emphasized that Yuki Tsunoda’s recent slump not only exposes the challenges of matching Verstappen’s performance but also paints Perez’s stint in a more favorable light.
“It almost shows that Perez was doing a better job than we gave him credit for,” Warwick noted.
Back your driver or break him?
Warwick urged Red Bull to publicly back Tsunoda for the remainder of the season. With rumors swirling about yet another driver swap — and rising talent Isack Hadjar waiting in the wings — the uncertainty is only adding pressure on the Japanese driver.
“You don’t keep on saying we’re looking at other drivers… all that does is put pressure on their driver,” Warwick stressed. “Instead of driving with soft hands and a soft steering wheel, he ends up trying too hard, braking too late.”
Warwick insisted the team must instill confidence in Tsunoda to stabilize the situation.
“No question, I don’t care if he crashes every race, I don’t care if he’s lost every race, he’s in for the season,” he added. “Was it a mistake letting Perez go? It looks like it.”
What Lies Ahead for the Japanese sensation?
With Red Bull’s long-standing partnership with Honda — Yuki Tsunoda’s key backer — ending after the 2025 season, Tsunoda’s future remains uncertain. As the team juggles on-track performance with off-track decisions, Warwick’s call for commitment over chaos may prove crucial if Red Bull aims to maintain its dominance.
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