Nico Rosberg Raises Alarm: The ‘Inexplicable’ Struggles of Red Bull’s Second Drivers!
In a breathtaking display at the Italian Grand Prix, one name shone brighter than the rest — Max Verstappen. The Dutch prodigy snatched pole position in a dramatic finale, leaving his competitors, including teammate Yuki Tsunoda, in his dust. As the racing world buzzes with excitement, former F1 champion Nico Rosberg is left scratching his head, questioning the perplexing enigma that is Red Bull Racing’s second driver.
Tsunoda, despite showcasing his talent with one of his strongest starts this season, finds himself trailing Verstappen by a staggering seven-tenths of a second. This familiar scenario raises an urgent question: What is fundamentally wrong with Red Bull’s second seat? Rosberg, commenting during the post-qualifying Sky Sports broadcast, couldn’t hold back his frustration. “This has been years now, and once again, Yuki today is more than seven tenths behind Max Verstappen,” he proclaimed. “That’s inexplicable — like I don’t understand, because Yuki is great. He knows how to drive a racing car. How is it possible he’s just so far behind once again? It’s crazy that they can’t find a solution to that.”
While acknowledging that Tsunoda’s car may not be an exact replica of Verstappen’s machine, Rosberg’s disbelief remains palpable. “Maybe it’s a tenth or something,” he asserted, displaying genuine sympathy for Tsunoda’s plight. “I feel for Yuki, because this is, again, a really, really tough day.”
Tsunoda himself expressed a mix of satisfaction and frustration, revealing that his qualifying session could have been significantly better had he secured a slipstream — a critical element at Monza. “In Q3, I wasn’t able to have slipstream,” he explained. “Traditionally at this kind of track you want to have a bit of circulation and slipstream. I had to lead the pack in Q3, which is kind of opposite to what I want. But in the end, overall, I’m happy with the performance. Being in Q3 was the thing I wanted for a long time and overall I’m happy with it.”
This season has been a rollercoaster for Tsunoda at Monza. In his previous four attempts, the Japanese driver faced a barrage of misfortunes — two failed starts, a retirement, and a dismal 14th-place finish in his last appearance. Yet here he is, showing promise in a season marred by inconsistency.
The central question looms larger than ever: Why does Verstappen continue to outperform not just Tsunoda, but seemingly every other teammate he’s had? Is it a case of Verstappen’s unparalleled skill, or is there a deeper malaise affecting Red Bull’s second drivers? Rosberg’s probing inquiries expose a critical issue plaguing the team: an inability to cultivate a second driver capable of matching Verstappen’s extraordinary pace.
As the F1 community turns its gaze to the races ahead, fans and pundits alike are left to ponder the implications of this ongoing saga. Will Tsunoda — and future drivers in the second seat — ever break free from the shadow of Verstappen, or is it a curse that will haunt Red Bull for years to come? The answers remain elusive, but the intrigue is undeniable. Buckle up, racing fans; the quest for clarity in this high-speed drama is just getting started!