Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull Regret: “I Missed Out on a Good F**king Car”
In a shocking revelation that has sent ripples through the Formula 1 community, Yuki Tsunoda opens up about his tumultuous transition from Racing Bulls to Red Bull, declaring his only regret is leaving behind a “good f**king car.” The Japanese driver, who has been vying for a prominent position in the F1 world, shared his candid thoughts ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and they are nothing short of explosive.
Tsunoda, who was initially behind the wheel of the Racing Bulls car for the first two races of the 2025 season, was swiftly promoted to Red Bull to replace the underperforming Liam Lawson. The expectation from Red Bull’s management was high; they anticipated that Tsunoda would bridge the gap to Max Verstappen and bolster their championship ambitions. However, what followed was a season fraught with challenges and disappointments for Tsunoda, who ultimately struggled to find his footing in the demanding RB21.
Reflecting on his departure from Racing Bulls, Tsunoda expressed profound feelings about the car he left behind. “The only regret I have is missing out on that pretty good f**king car… the VCARB,” he lamented. The sentiment strikes a chord, as he describes the Racing Bulls car as an extension of himself, stating, “It’s like throwing away your kids, your baby, because this is the car that I developed with the team throughout the years.” Tsunoda’s emotional connection to the vehicle underscores the sacrifices he made in pursuit of his F1 dreams.
His stint at Red Bull has left much to be desired. Despite the team’s championship aspirations, Tsunoda’s performance has been lackluster, with his best finish being a sixth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. A catastrophic crash during qualifying at Imola early in the season rattled his confidence and derailed his momentum. “Imola, for sure, is something that I look back on that frustrates me a lot still,” Tsunoda admitted. The repercussions of that crash were felt throughout his season, as he struggled to catch up to upgraded components while watching his peers outshine him.
In a season marked by missed opportunities, Tsunoda has seen his former Racing Bulls teammates, Isack Hadjar and Lawson, scoring more points than him—Hadjar with 51 and Lawson with 38, despite only two races in the Red Bull. Tsunoda managed to accumulate 33 points, predominantly while driving for Red Bull, but the disparity left him yearning for what might have been.
While Red Bull ultimately decided to replace Tsunoda with Hadjar for the upcoming regulation cycle, they have kept the driver within the fold as a reserve. Tsunoda has no regrets about his decision to join Red Bull, yet he cannot shake the feeling of loss over the “strong car” he abandoned. “Missing out on that and finishing out without finally being able to get to the level that we wanted is something that I miss,” he reflected, a poignant reminder of the razor-thin margins that define success in F1.
The Racing Bulls car has proven to be more nimble and responsive this season, with Tsunoda even finishing fifth in Australia. Meanwhile, as Verstappen has turned the RB21 into a championship contender, questions have arisen about whether Tsunoda’s former team has produced a more competitive vehicle. Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer weighed in on the matter, emphasizing the importance of driver confidence in a stable platform, a factor that could have played a role in Tsunoda’s struggles.
As Tsunoda’s tumultuous season draws to a close, he stands at a crossroads, grappling with what could have been. With the pressure mounting and the stakes higher than ever, Tsunoda’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the fierce competition and emotional toll that defines Formula 1 racing. Will he rise from the ashes of this challenging season to reclaim his position among the elite, or will the regret of leaving behind a good f**king car linger in the back of his mind? Only time will tell, as the world waits with bated breath for the next chapter in Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 saga.









