Max Verstappen explains why he’s ‘jealous’ of new Red Bull F1 teammate Yuki Tsunoda

Red Bull tend to be at the centre of any volatility in the Formula 1 drivers’ market.

It took Red Bull team principal Christian Horner just two race weekends to determine that Liam Lawson was not cut out to be Max Verstappen’s teammate.

Lawson struggled to get to grips with the RB21 and as a result, he was replaced by Yuki Tsunoda.

It was one of the fastest driver swaps in Formula 1 history, but it speaks volumes about the state of the drivers’ market that they’re already no longer the newest pairing on the grid.

That honour belongs to Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto at Alpine, but Verstappen and Tsunoda have worked together for a long time at Red Bull before becoming teammates.

Tsunoda came through the junior ranks as a Red Bull junior before making his debut with Toro Rosso in 2021.

Verstappen was on the verge of winning his first drivers’ championship by this point, but it took more than four years for the Japanese driver to finally earn that coveted promotion to Red Bull.

It’s not quite gone to plan so far, with Tsunoda joining the growing list of drivers who have struggled to match the four-time world champion.

However, Verstappen has now revealed more about his relationship with his latest teammate and why he’s occasionally ‘jealous’ of him.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Max Verstappen ‘jealous’ of Yuki Tsunoda’s diet outside of Formula 1

Verstappen was asked on the Talking Bull Podcast what it’s like driving alongside Tsunoda at Red Bull and said: “I like Yuki, he’s a great teammate, he’s very funny.

“We get on very well, of course, I know him already for quite a few years with him being part of the Red Bull family, so, he’s cool.

“He’s a lot of fun, and he likes to eat. I’m also a bit jealous of how much he can eat!”

Verstappen then questioned about whether they’ve learned any of each other’s languages and he joked: “We cannot say those words here!”

Tsunoda has developed a reputation in the paddock for his love of food and his dream of opening a restaurant one day.

Helmut Marko has noticed a physical change in Tsunoda this season as he’s worked to get stronger during the off-season.

That might not be particularly easy to balance with his love of cuisine, but highlights the sacrifices Tsunoda has made to reach the top of his craft.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

What are Yuki Tsunoda’s next steps after his difficult start to life at Red Bull?

Tsunoda was one of the standout drivers during the first two rounds of the 2025 F1 championship, qualifying fifth in Australia and missing out on points at the Chinese Grand Prix due to a strategy error.

He finished ahead of Lando Norris and Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the Sprint Race in Shanghai before being promoted and that’s where his struggles have started this season.

Tsunoda’s best finish in a Grand Prix since joining Red Bull is ninth, and while he secured a P6 in the Sprint Race in Miami, he benefited from several penalties handed out to drivers who finished ahead of him.

Isack Hadjar is already being linked with replacing Tsunoda next year, but it’s hard to imagine the French rookie outperforming the 25-year-old had he stayed at Racing Bulls.

Red Bull are repeating an experiment they tested with Lawson on Tsunoda to try and help him get up to speed, but the minuscule performance window that the RB21 performs best in continues to elude him.

Tsunoda needs time to get up to speed if he’s going to succeed at Red Bull, but whether he’ll be granted it is another matter.