Yuki Tsunoda admits he expected a well done from Red Bull after impressive feat, he got ‘nothing’

Yuki Tsunoda entered the Miami Grand Prix weekend 16th in the Formula 1 world championship. He’s scored more points for Racing Bulls (three) than he has for Red Bull (two).

It could be argued that the lowly ranking doesn’t reflect his performance levels in 2025. While Tsunoda squandered a chance to score points on his Red Bull debut in Japan, he then finished P9 in Bahrain.

He had his best Saturday so far in Saudi Arabia as he took eighth on the grid, but a racing incident with Pierre Gasly on the opening lap took him out. Without that, he may well have had two points finishes in three starts.

That’s the benchmark for Red Bull’s second driver right now. The team have accepted that the days of podium finishes and front-row starts, last seen in 2023 and early 2024, are gone.

Tsunoda will aid Max Verstappen’s title bid where he can, but his short-term goal should be consistent top-10s. That will limit any speculation that he might be replaced for 2026.

Yuki Tsunoda realised how demanding Red Bull were almost immediately

Speaking to ESPN at the Miami Grand Prix, Tsunoda shared the moment he understood Red Bull’s mentality. At the sister team, the bar for celebration was much lower.

While he couldn’t convert it to a strong qualifying showing, Tsunoda immediately looked quick in practice at Suzuka. He was 0.107s off Verstappen in FP1, and still within three-tenths in FP3.

At that point, he expected the team’s hierarchy to tell him he was doing a ‘good job’. But they were silent.

Though it surprised him at the time, Tsunoda is grateful for their ruthlessness.

“The mindset is definitely more about the championship,” he explained. “VCARB, in terms of performance, is not great compared to Red Bull. If we went through to Q3 in qualifying, or scored points, we were happy.

“In Red Bull, I had a good session immediately in FP1 once I jumped in in Japan. I was one-tenth off Max. I went through to Q2, and I was expecting a little bit more of a ‘good job man, you’re doing well’.

“[There was] nothing. In a good way, it gives me a better mindset.”

Yuki Tsunoda reveals what’s surprised him about Max Verstappen since he joined Red Bull

In the same interview, Tsunoda was asked about his first impressions of Verstappen. Having heard the Dutchman’s occasionally angry radio messages, he was a little wary.

However, he’s found the world champion to be nothing but supportive and kind.

“He’s just a generally good guy,” Tsunoda said. “From what we see on the radio, it maybe looks different. Maybe initially, before I talked with him, I had a little bit of a different image of him.

“But the more I talk with him and the more time I spend with him, I just appreciate how supportive he is. He’s easy to work with.”

Tsunoda believes he can beat Verstappen as soon as he’s acclimatised to the car. That claim has raised eyebrows in the F1 paddock.

Giedo van der Garde told Tsunoda to be more ‘realistic’ in his objectives. While it’s hard to tame his racing driver instincts, he perhaps needs to realise that’s not his remit.