Max Verstappen achieved a strong P3 finish in Barcelona by maximizing the potential of his RB21, while Yuki Tsunoda had a disastrous qualifying session, being eliminated in Q1 and setting the slowest time among regular sessions this season.
Red Bull’s Helmut Marko expressed the need to discuss Tsunoda’s performance internally, as the Japanese driver admitted to struggling with a fundamental limitation in the car without knowing the exact issue.
Verstappen’s comments on Tsunoda’s struggle pointed towards a long-standing trend of Red Bull’s challenging second driver situation, with the team often relying heavily on Verstappen.
Despite the difficulties faced by Tsunoda and Red Bull, Verstappen prioritizes having a competitive car in the title fight over having a fast teammate, emphasizing the current lack of grip and overall performance as key factors in their struggles against rivals like McLaren.
