P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yuki Tsunoda has been “painful” to watch and doesn’t deserve a seat for 2026, says a former Red Bull F1 driver.
Yuki Tsunoda has faced harsh criticism for his Formula 1 performances, with Robert Doornbos labeling him as Red Bull’s “worst” second driver.
Promoted mid-season, Tsunoda has failed to meet expectations and has gone seven race weekends without scoring any points.
His struggles have coincided with Red Bull’s own performance decline, impacting his chances of entering the top 10.
While Red Bull plans to retain Tsunoda until the season’s end, his future with the team is uncertain for 2026 due to Honda’s departure and the partnership with Aston Martin.
Doornbos believes Red Bull should focus on developing their new car and engine for the upcoming regulations rather than retaining Tsunoda.
Furthermore, he suggests Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar should not be paired with Max Verstappen too soon to protect the young driver’s confidence.
