After the British Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly, now with Alpine, addressed the difficult situation that Yuki Tsunoda is facing as Red Bull’s second driver. Gasly, who experienced similar challenges while racing alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull, discussed the persistent struggles shared by many drivers in that position, but he avoided detailing his own difficulties as Verstappen’s teammate. The focus remained on the broader issues rather than individual performance.
Max Verstappen joined Red Bull Racing midway through the 2016 season, taking over from Daniil Kvyat. While the Dutch driver spent 2016 and 2017 gaining experience, 2018 marked a turning point as Verstappen clearly outmatched his teammate Daniel Ricciardo. Since then, Verstappen’s teammates—such as Ricciardo, Gasly, Alex Albon, Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and most recently Yuki Tsunoda—have consistently underperformed compared to the four-time Formula 1 champion.
The Persistent Struggles of Red Bull’s Secondary Seat
Since 2018, the driver occupying the second Red Bull seat has faced numerous challenges, including eliminations in Q2 and Q3 qualifying sessions and races without points, in stark contrast to Verstappen’s frequent pole positions and victories. Yuki Tsunoda, who replaced Liam Lawson two races into the 2025 season, has struggled to find pace and consistency, managing to score points in only three of his ten races so far. His recent form has been notably poor, failing to earn points in the last five races.
Gasly spoke candidly about the nature of these problems, suggesting that the difficulties cannot be attributed to a single cause. He said,
“To be fair, I think we all get put in the same basket when it comes to the second car. But to me, things were very different to me than they were for Alex or they were for Perez. I’m not going to elaborate too much on that.”
He further added,
“Clearly, something is not clicking for Yuki. I just hope for him as a friend that somehow it comes together because the level there is on the grid. You know what everybody is capable of doing – it just doesn’t seem right,”
emphasizing the complex and unique challenges faced by Red Bull’s second drivers. —Pierre Gasly, F1 Driver
Gasly’s Commitment to Alpine Amid Verstappen’s Potential Mercedes Move
Amid rumors that Max Verstappen is negotiating a move to Mercedes for the 2026 season, questions have arisen about Gasly’s future and possible return to Red Bull. Recent reports suggest Verstappen plans to activate an exit clause from Red Bull and join the Brackley-based Mercedes team.
When asked about the possibility of moving to Red Bull if Verstappen departs, Gasly remained firm in his commitment to Alpine, stating,
“I’m racing for Alpine and I want to win with Alpine.”
—Pierre Gasly, F1 Driver
Gasly’s history with Red Bull includes a challenging stint where, after underperforming, he was replaced by Alex Albon and moved to Alpha Tauri before securing his current seat with Alpine starting in 2023. His remarks reflect a focus on his current team’s prospects despite ongoing changes in Formula 1’s driver landscape.
The Significance of Consistency in Red Bull’s Driver Lineup
The ongoing difficulty for Red Bull’s second driver highlights the pressure and expectations at the top level of Formula 1. Verstappen’s dominance has set an exceptionally high benchmark, making it difficult for his teammates to shine. Gasly’s insights underline how these struggles are multifaceted, involving individual adaptation and team dynamics rather than simple performance issues.
With Verstappen possibly moving to Mercedes, Red Bull will face new decisions about their driver lineup, potentially opening opportunities for drivers like Gasly. Meanwhile, the challenges Tsunoda and others face show that maintaining performance at Red Bull requires overcoming significant obstacles beyond driving skill alone.