In recent years, the second Formula 1 seat at Red Bull has gained a reputation as a difficult position to excel in, with frequent mid-season driver changes becoming commonplace.
Max Verstappen’s exceptional driving skills have set a high standard, making it challenging for the second driver to match his performance.
The team’s focus for the second driver is often on collecting points for the constructors’ championship rather than trying to outperform Verstappen.
Red Bull replaced Liam Lawson with Yuki Tsunonda after just two races in 2025, but the change did not immediately improve results.
Tsunoda has also struggled with the unpredictable nature of the RB21 car, facing difficulties in fully exploiting its potential, similar to his predecessor Lawson.
Qualifying performances have been particularly challenging for Tsunoda, as pushing the RB21 to its limits increases the risk of errors, as demonstrated by his crash at Imola.
