Tsunoda Defiantly Backs Verstappen's Title Bid, Dismisses Red Bull Giving Up on 2025

Yuki Tsunoda has issued a defiant statement, emphasizing that Red Bull is fully committed to the 2025 season and Max Verstappen's pursuit of a fifth consecutive world title. Despite some teams shifting focus to 2026, Tsunoda believes Red Bull's recent upgrades have boosted their performance, giving them a strong chance to finish the season on a high.

Why it matters:

This declaration from Tsunoda signals Red Bull's unwavering commitment to the current season amidst fierce competition, particularly from McLaren. It also highlights the internal confidence within the team regarding their recent performance upturn and Verstappen's championship aspirations, even as speculation about future driver lineups for 2026 intensifies.

The Details:

• Tsunoda's Performance Boost: Yuki Tsunoda recently achieved a P6 finish in Azerbaijan, his best result of the current campaign. This improvement is largely attributed to Red Bull's latest floor upgrade, introduced at Monza.
• Verstappen's Continued Dominance: Max Verstappen has consistently delivered, securing back-to-back poles and wins, alongside a P2 finish, showcasing Red Bull's strong form.
• Resource Allocation: Tsunoda's optimism stems from the belief that while other teams might be diverting resources to the 2026 season, Red Bull's focused efforts on 2025 upgrades could give them an edge.
• Team Support for Max: Tsunoda explicitly stated, “We’re not giving up with this season, especially securing the Drivers’ Championship for Max.” He also expressed his willingness to support Verstappen in races where he can.

What's next:

While Tsunoda's recent performance has been strong, his future at Red Bull Racing remains uncertain. Helmut Marko confirmed that only Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar are secured for 2026, leaving Tsunoda and Liam Lawson's F1 careers in limbo.

• Potential New Talent: Red Bull is reportedly looking at other talents, including McLaren junior Alex Dunne (driving in F2 for Rodin Motorsport) and in-house talent Arvid Lindblad, for future F1 promotions.
• No Firm Decisions: Despite rumors, GPblog understands that no definitive decisions have been made regarding who will drive for Red Bull Racing or its sister team beyond Verstappen in 2026.
• Continued Focus on 2025: For now, the focus remains on extracting maximum performance from the current car and securing Verstappen's fifth world title, a goal Tsunoda and the team are actively pursuing.