Yuki Tsunoda’s Bold RB21 Verdict Ignites Hope and Controversy at Red Bull Ahead of Suzuka Debut
Yuki Tsunoda has dropped a bombshell that’s set pulses racing in the Formula 1 world, offering unexpected feedback on the RB21 after his first simulator stint with Red Bull. As the Japanese driver gears up for his home Grand Prix debut with the Austrian team at Suzuka, his candid take—“the RB21 is not that difficult to drive”—has Red Bull fans buzzing and skeptics raising eyebrows. With Max Verstappen’s future hanging in the balance and the team reeling from Liam Lawson’s fleeting two-race tenure, Tsunoda’s arrival marks a pivotal moment. Can he prove it’s the driver, not the car, that makes the difference, and could he be Red Bull’s long-term answer?
Tsunoda’s simulator sessions revealed a car with a responsive front end, a trait Verstappen famously cranks to the max, yet the 24-year-old insists it suits him too. “My idea of a car is different from Max’s, but I didn’t feel anything strange,” he shared, hinting at a tailored setup that contrasts with Verstappen’s aggressive style. This adaptability could be a lifeline for Red Bull, desperate to stabilize the RB21 after a rocky start to 2025. The team’s special white-livered Suzuka run, celebrating the end of their Honda partnership, doubles the stakes—Tsunoda finishing high would thrill Honda and bolster Red Bull’s faith in their new second driver. Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s veteran advisor, sees Tsunoda’s experience as key to building a competitive car, but warned that a less aggressive setup might be needed to ease him in—a strategy Lawson never got.
The RB21’s woes aren’t news. After dominating 2022 and 2023, Red Bull faltered in 2024, ceding the constructors’ crown to McLaren and Ferrari. Now, with key figures like Adrian Newey and Rob Marshall gone—Marshall’s move to McLaren coinciding with their upswing—the team’s development has hit a wall. Tsunoda’s promotion from VCARB, where he shone despite strategy blunders, offers hope. “Yuki’s in the form of his life,” Marko praised, noting his maturity and error-free start to 2025 under new management.
Yet, Verstappen’s dissatisfaction looms large. The four-time champion insists the car’s core issues must be fixed for any driver to thrive, and his exit clause looms over the summer break if upgrades falter. Marko admitted, “If Max jumps ship, that’d be reason for me to leave too,” tying the team’s fate to the RB21’s progress.
Tsunoda’s confidence contrasts with Lawson’s brief, feedback-light stint, which ended after two races—one a sprint, the other wet—leaving Red Bull unimpressed. Was Honda’s influence behind Tsunoda’s rise, as he once hinted about Lawson’s “political” promotion? The Japanese driver now has the chance to silence doubters and prove his worth in a seat dubbed “cursed”—no second driver since Daniel Ricciardo in 2006 has lasted beyond three races. With Verstappen just eight points off the lead, Red Bull needs Tsunoda’s data to unlock the RB21’s potential, but the shadow of Newey’s exit and Marshall’s loss lingers. Can Tsunoda defy the odds, mesh with Verstappen’s vision, and cement his future? Suzuka awaits, and the stakes couldn’t be higher for “Yuki 2.0” to deliver.
