Yuki Tsunoda admits he still can't explain why Red Bull went so wrong

Yuki Tsunoda still cannot explain what went wrong during his 2025 Red Bull campaign, admitting he left the season without ever understanding the RB21. The Japanese driver scored 30 points across 22 race weekends, finished 388 points behind Max Verstappen and never reached the podium before being dropped to a reserve role.

Why it matters:

Tsunoda's struggles are part of a wider Red Bull pattern. He was promoted after two races to replace Liam Lawson, then Lawson returned to Racing Bulls and later found himself drafted back into the senior team in 2026. The episode highlights how difficult the Red Bull car is to drive and how much pressure falls on anyone sitting alongside Verstappen.

The details:

• Speaking on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Tsunoda said he normally understands the car he is driving, but after Abu Dhabi he still did not know what kind of car he had been driving.
• He described a loss of confidence that came and went, saying: "I still don't understand the car, to be honest."
• Tsunoda even considered changing his driving style to mimic Verstappen, a step he says he never seriously contemplated before.
• Data showed no meaningful difference between the two teammates' approaches, leaving Tsunoda with no clear answer.
• Away from the track, he struggled to reset. "I'm not really enjoying my life," he admitted, adding that he sought help from a psychologist and trainer during the season.

What's next:

Tsunoda remains part of the Red Bull family as reserve driver for 2026 and has already filled in for Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls for three races after Lawson was called up to substitute for Isack Hadjar, who fractured his wrist in a training accident. He believes nothing in his career will be as hard as 2025, but the experience forced him to look at himself more deeply than ever before.