Yuki Tsunoda experienced a challenging day at the Spanish Grand Prix, as his qualifying performance fell short compared to teammate Max Verstappen, who secured third place on the grid. The Japanese driver was eliminated in the first qualifying round (Q1) and recorded the slowest time among Red Bull drivers in a regular qualifying session this season, following Liam Lawson’s similar outcome in China.
Internal Discussions Begin as Tsunoda Points to Car Limitations
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko acknowledged the need to address the situation internally, while Tsunoda expressed frustration after qualifying. The driver admitted that nothing seemed to work during the session and referred to a fundamental limitation within the car, although he was unsure about the exact issue causing his performance drop.
Reinforcing a Persistent Issue in Red Bull’s Second Seat
The struggles of Tsunoda fit a recurring pattern for Red Bull’s second driver, a role that has proven difficult over recent seasons and often leaves Verstappen to compete without strong support. When asked about Tsunoda’s last-place finish, Verstappen emphasized:
He’s not a pancake, right? When he was in those Racing Bulls, he always looked good compared to Hadjar. But yeah, it is what it is.
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Driver
In Dutch slang, “pannenkoek” (pancake) describes someone incompetent, a term Verstappen used to dismiss criticism of Tsunoda.
Isack Hadjar, Tsunoda’s competitor, also weighed in, stating:
Yuki is definitely worth more than a P20, that’s for sure,
Of course, I don’t really know what he’s going through at the moment. Because I’ve never been on the other side of the garage. But yeah, he needs to keep pushing […] he’s definitely not a P20 guy.
—Isack Hadjar, Driver
Tsunoda’s struggles highlight ongoing challenges with the performance and reliability of the sister car at Red Bull, which Verstappen admits has been a longstanding issue.
Of course it’s been going on for a long time. Maybe that’s also a sign,
You can answer that yourself.
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Driver
Verstappen hinted that the difficulties stem from the car’s demanding nature and grip problems rather than the driver alone. He explained:
If you don’t have enough grip, then that’s it. The balance was good, but we just didn’t have enough grip, so there was not much we could do.
Verstappen Prioritizes Car Performance Over Teammate Speed
With the world constructors’ championship at stake, Red Bull faces pressure not only from rival teams but also internally due to the inconsistent performance of its second car. Verstappen has consistently voiced that having a reliable and competitive car matters more than the speed of a teammate during his pursuit of the drivers’ title.
However, the current season reveals that Red Bull still struggles to find the necessary grip and overall performance to challenge competitors like McLaren effectively. Verstappen commented on this issue during the Spanish GP:
We just lack a bit of grip,
The overall performance just isn’t there. And we know that. You just have to accept it.
—Max Verstappen, Red Bull Driver
The tension around Tsunoda’s qualifying struggles reflects wider concerns within Red Bull Racing, as the team looks to address technical challenges and optimize both cars for the remainder of the season.