Yuki Tsunoda Speaks Out: The Turbulent Waters of Red Bull Racing Cost Him His F1 Seat!
In a shocking revelation, Yuki Tsunoda, the young and ambitious Japanese driver, has candidly expressed his belief that he joined Red Bull Racing during one of the most chaotic times imaginable. As the dust settles on the 2025 Formula 1 season, Tsunoda finds himself reflecting on a tumultuous tenure that ended with him being unceremoniously dropped from the team.
The 25-year-old racer, who once shared the track with the formidable Max Verstappen, was handed his walking papers by the Milton Keynes powerhouse after a lackluster performance that saw him score a mere 33 points. With emotions still raw, Tsunoda admitted, “Obviously I was disappointed. I’m not fully recognizing or fully feeling it yet, that I’m not racing next year.” This stark statement underscores the gravity of his situation and the emotional toll it takes to step away from the sport he loves.
Tsunoda’s struggles were compounded by the challenge of being teammates with the reigning champion, Verstappen. “Maybe Max being the best driver in the grid is not helping the second driver, probably,” Tsunoda remarked, illustrating the uphill battle he faced as Verstappen consistently vied for championship glory. The internal focus on one driver, as Tsunoda pointed out, inevitably overshadowed his own ambitions. “The team wants to prioritize the guy who’s fighting for the championship, that’s normal,” he added, highlighting a reality that many second drivers in F1 can relate to.
The drama within Red Bull Racing escalated further with the recent upheaval in leadership, including the dismissal of Team Principal Christian Horner. The whispers of discord within the team reached a fever pitch, with outgoing advisor Helmut Marko suggesting that the atmosphere had become increasingly divisive. Tsunoda backed these claims, revealing, “For my situation, probably I was jumping into this team almost in the time that internally they’re having a war. That was pretty difficult.” The turbulence of the team’s internal politics undoubtedly played a role in derailing his potential for success.
Despite these setbacks, Tsunoda managed to scrape through the season, but not without facing significant challenges. For a considerable part of the year, he was relegated to driving a B-spec RB21, while Verstappen benefited from a slew of upgrades. “Having one of the tightest fields in the grid wasn’t any help,” he lamented, as he struggled to keep pace with his illustrious teammate. “Maybe I was exiting Q1 sometimes and he was most of the time in Q3 obviously and top three or whatever, so if you look at that result it does look bad.”
Now, as he transitions to a reserve role for 2026, Tsunoda remains resolute about his accomplishments during his time with Red Bull. “I’m proud of what I’ve done and I’m sure things will go in the right direction for next year as a whole team,” he declared, showcasing his determination to contribute positively, even from the sidelines.
As fans of the sport look ahead, the question looms: Can Yuki Tsunoda reclaim his spot in the cutthroat world of Formula 1? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain—his time at Red Bull will be remembered as a chaotic chapter filled with challenges, fierce competition, and an indomitable spirit that refuses to back down. The saga of Yuki Tsunoda is far from over and promises to deliver more twists and turns as the F1 landscape continues to evolve.









