Yuki Tsunoda surprised by difficulty of Red Bull switch, details aggressive team culture

Yuki Tsunoda has admitted his mid-season promotion to Red Bull for 2025 was "more difficult" than he imagined, culminating in the loss of his race seat after a challenging half-season alongside Max Verstappen. The Japanese driver, who scored only 30 points in 22 races after replacing Liam Lawson, highlighted a surprising cultural shift within the championship-winning team, particularly its aggressive approach to car setup.

Why it matters:

Tsunoda's candid reflection provides a rare glimpse into the immense pressure and steep learning curve faced by drivers moving into a top team, especially mid-season. His experience underscores how operational culture and car philosophy, not just pure speed, define success at the front of the grid. The outcome—demotion to a test role for 2026—shows the brutal competitiveness at Red Bull and the narrow margin for error.

The details:

• Tsunoda was promoted from sister team Racing Bulls (then VCARB) after just two races in 2025, replacing Liam Lawson in a surprise early switch.
• He never fully adapted to the RB21, struggling for performance alongside Max Verstappen and suffering a major low point with a heavy crash at Imola.
• His 30-point haul across 22 Grands Prix contributed to Red Bull falling to third in the constructors' championship, unable to secure second place.
• In discussing the team's culture, Tsunoda noted Red Bull's willingness to make radical setup changes, even just before qualifying or at critical championship moments, describing it as an "aggressive" and impressive philosophy.
• He also joked about the improved hotel accommodations, but emphasized that the underlying team structure, while similar in some ways to Racing Bulls, had "completely different" elements that surprised him with their scale.

The big picture:

Tsunoda's story is a classic case of a rapid promotion meeting the harsh realities of Formula 1's pinnacle. While his raw speed earned him the shot, integrating into a well-oiled machine built around a dominant driver like Verstappen proved a formidable task. His demotion to test and reserve driver for 2026 resets his career path, offering a chance to develop without the weekend-to-weekend pressure, but it leaves a question mark over his long-term future as a Red Bull racing driver.