Helmut Marko explains why Red Bull will miss out on £118m windfall in 2025 thanks to struggling Yuki Tsunoda

Yuki Tsunoda is struggling to adapt at Red Bull in 2025. Much like his predecessors, he is fading away at an alarming rate as Max Verstappen’s teammate.

The Japanese driver was promoted from Racing Bulls after just two races, as Liam Lawson was dropped following dismal performances in Melbourne and Shanghai. While Tsunoda has been an improvement, with Q3 appearances and points finishes, he too is struggling at the team.

Since joining Red Bull, the 24-year-old has scored just seven points and has been miles off the pace of his teammate. Red Bull have been surprised by Tsunoda’s pace deficit to Verstappen as the Dutchman challenges the McLarens at the front.

Meanwhile, Tsunoda is facing difficulties with the RB21, which were made very apparent at the Spanish GP as he qualified last, just as Lawson did in Shanghai. Verstappen says Tsunoda has the same issue as Lawson, as the pair, and even the four-time champion himself, have found the car hard to drive.

Red Bull held internal discussions after Tsunoda’s qualifying disaster. He finished the race in 13th, while Max Verstappen’s 10-second time penalty meant Red Bull walked away from Barcelona with just one point, damaging their title chances.

Helmut Marko says Red Bull have ‘written off’ the constructors’ championship due to Yuki Tsunoda’s struggles

In 2024, despite having an inferior car to McLaren in the second half of the season, Verstappen was still able to seal the title. However, teammate Sergio Perez cost the team in the constructors’ championship with his woeful results.

The same thing is happening in 2025. The second Red Bull car has yielded barely any points after nine races, which has seen the team slip to fourth in the standings, 218 points behind McLaren.

Due to this huge deficit, Helmut Marko wrote in his column for Speedweek that the team have ‘already written off’ their constructors’ title chances. The Austrian chief advisor says it is due to Tsunoda ‘only slowly getting going’.

The Japanese driver’s form is set to cost Red Bull millions, as the champions are estimated to bring home around £118m for winning the title in 2025.

“McLaren remained alone at the front, but the rest of the field has closed in on us,” wrote Marko as he assessed the Spanish GP.

“Mercedes and Ferrari have closed the gap, and the midfield as a whole has also moved forward. Fortunately, the two McLaren drivers are alternating at the front. Oscar Piastri is ahead at one point, and Lando Norris at the other. And there are still 15 World Championship rounds to go.

“Nevertheless, we’re 49 points behind the World Championship leader, which is a very large gap. And if we don’t improve, our chances of winning the World Championship will eventually be over.

“In the Constructors’ Championship, we’ve already written off the overall victory; we no longer have a chance there. This is, of course, also due to the second driver, because Yuki Tsunoda is only slowly getting going.”

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Is Yuki Tsunoda’s future at Red Bull already decided?

With his struggles in 2025 and Tsunoda’s contract being up at the end of the season, speculation is ramping up about what Red Bull will do with the 24-year-old come 2026.

Red Bull fear Tsunoda’s progress has stagnated as he falls further back compared to his teammate. Marko said Tsunoda lost three tenths to Verstappen in Barcelona; he may have accidentally proved why the team have to consider other options for 2026.

Isack Hadjar is the favourite to replace Tsunoda, with the Frenchman proving he is the team’s second-fastest driver in 2025 with his performances with Racing Bulls.

There is even a scenario that Tsunoda could be replaced mid-season if he suffers a ‘disastrous’ run of races. Red Bull want to keep him in the seat until the end of 2025, but it is clear he has to find some performance as soon as possible.