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Yuki Tsunoda has made it clear that he does not intend to ask Max Verstappen for advice on handling the Red Bull RB21, citing doubts that the reigning World Champion would be entirely forthcoming. On his part, Verstappen believes Tsunoda must figure it out on his own.
Tsunoda enters his first race weekend as a Red Bull driver on home turf in Japan. This opportunity came after Red Bull made a bold move, swapping out Liam Lawson just three races into the 2025 season. Lawson had struggled significantly in the RB21, failing to advance beyond Q1 or secure points in Australia and China, prompting Red Bull to reinstate Tsunoda from Racing Bulls.
With the team lagging behind in the Constructors’ Championship, Red Bull hopes Tsunoda can bring the second car closer to Verstappen and bolster their title challenge. However, the Japanese driver isn’t looking to Verstappen for guidance on taming the RB21, explaining that he doubts Verstappen would “say the truth” even if asked.
Max Verstappen’s Stance on Tsunoda’s Learning Curve
Verstappen, meanwhile, is not eager to offer any unsolicited advice. When asked whether he had spoken with Tsunoda about the nuances of the Red Bull RB21, Verstappen replied:
_“No. I mean, I’ve only seen Yuki yesterday quickly, and he’s been busy at the factory. But at the end of the day, it’s not really up to me. Also, he has to find it out himself, because my experience might not be his experience.”_
Did Tsunoda Deserve the Red Bull Seat?
Tsunoda’s promotion after four seasons with Red Bull’s junior team sparked debate, especially given how swiftly Lawson was dropped. When asked if Tsunoda deserved this opportunity, Verstappen remarked:
_“I think that everyone that tries to make it in the sport is working for it every day, they deserve a shot, for sure.”_
However, reports surfaced that Verstappen was not pleased with the driver swap, a sentiment later confirmed by Red Bull’s senior advisor Helmut Marko. When pressed on his reaction to Tsunoda’s appointment, Verstappen shared:
_“My reaction was shared with the team. But in general, you know, about not only the swap, but I think about everything. We discussed that already during last race weekend back at the factory.”_
When asked whether he agreed with Red Bull’s decision, Verstappen remained diplomatic:
_“Like I said, everything has been shared with the team, how I think about everything. Sometimes it’s not necessary to always share, let’s say, everything in public.”_
As Tsunoda embarks on this high-stakes challenge with Red Bull, the pressure is on to prove himself in one of the most scrutinized seats on the F1 grid. Whether he can unlock the RB21’s potential and support Verstappen’s title bid remains to be seen.
