Max Verstappen, the fiery Formula 1 driver, has come to the defense of his struggling Red Bull teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, after a disappointing qualifying session at the Spanish Grand Prix. Tsunoda’s performance left much to be desired as he ended up being the slowest in Saturday’s qualifying round at the Barcelona circuit, trailing eight-tenths behind the pace-setter, Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen, known for his bold statements, supported Tsunoda by stating, “He’s not a pancake, right?” Despite Tsunoda’s difficulties, with only seven points scored since joining Red Bull, the Dutch driver believes the focus should not solely be on the Japanese rookie.
The Red Bull team, including motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, has expressed commitment to Tsunoda until the end of the F1 2025 championship. However, after Tsunoda’s lackluster qualifying performance, Marko hinted at internal discussions within the team.
Verstappen, who will start third on the grid in Barcelona, acknowledges the challenges faced by his teammate but remains optimistic. He secured the third position in qualifying, with Championship leader Oscar Piastri taking pole position.
In a tense qualifying session where Verstappen fell short against McLaren’s drivers, he remains determined to push for a podium finish. Despite the gap in performance, Verstappen is focused on making the most of the race ahead.
As the Spanish Grand Prix unfolds, all eyes will be on Verstappen and Tsunoda as they navigate the twists and turns of the Barcelona circuit. Will Verstappen’s support be enough to uplift Tsunoda’s spirits and performance on race day? Only time will tell in this high-speed drama of Formula 1.