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Yuki Tsunoda says Red Bull underappreciated the difference in car spec with Max Verstappen while expecting results from him earlier in the 2025 F1 season.
Yuki Tsunoda expressed his belief that Red Bull did not fully grasp the disparity in car specifications between himself and Max Verstappen during the early part of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Despite his promotion to the team following Liam Lawson’s departure, expectations for Tsunoda were not exceedingly high due to the shortcomings of the RB21. However, his performance has been lackluster, with only seven points scored in 11 races. Tsunoda’s pace notably improved after receiving a revised floor on his car, which aligned him more closely with Verstappen. Looking ahead to the remaining races, Tsunoda remains optimistic about his potential with the team but emphasizes the need to consistently score points. Red Bull’s challenges in adding performance upgrades to the RB21 while adhering to the cost cap raise concerns about maintaining parity between drivers. Despite recent upgrades to Tsunoda’s car, uncertainties remain about achieving identical packages with Verstappen for the rest of the season. Tsunoda emphasizes the importance of continuous performance improvements and weekend optimization for the team moving forward.
