The second Formula 1 seat at Red Bull has become highly sought after, yet challenging, leading to frequent mid-season driver changes and a struggle to unlock the car’s full potential, especially compared to teammate Max Verstappen who sets a high benchmark.
Red Bull does not expect the second driver to match or beat Verstappen, but rather to stay within an acceptable lap time deficit and contribute to the constructors’ championship.
The team replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunonda after just two grands prix in 2025, resulting in underwhelming 10 points in seven rounds.
Tsunoda, like his predecessors, faces the challenge of predicting and controlling the RB21’s unpredictable behavior at the limit, as highlighted by his crash at Imola caused by underestimation.
Qualifying is particularly difficult due to the car’s nerve-wracking nature, leading to mistakes when drivers push too hard, as evidenced by Tsunoda’s Imola crash.
