In a sharp statement, a harbinger of the difficulties that his successor is expected to face at Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda went ahead, claiming that it is impossible for a normal driver to perform alongside Max Verstappen. This statement was made immediately after the Qatar Grand Prix, in which he finished 10th, just two days before the official announcement that he will leave the team in 2026 to give his place to the Racing Bulls pilot. The Japanese believes that, despite the high bar of the four-time world champion and the difficulties of the RB21, he has managed to show his worth.
Speaking to Motorsport Week, Tsunoda insisted his performance was impressive, especially when given an equal chance. “I mean, especially in the last three races, the team gave me a lot of support and I was able to drive in an almost identical car to Max’s. And I think in that I proved a lot of things,” he said.
The 25-year-old highlighted his ability to stay close to Verstappen: “I think since I had an identical car, I was always within two, three tenths.” He even cited successes in qualifying, such as the Qatar sprint, where he finished ahead of his teammate, a first in their partnership. “Even in the worst case, I was still three tenths behind. And three tenths behind is normally a top-five position,” he claimed.
Tsunoda concluded his statements by believing that he was able to get closer to Verstappen than his predecessors. “I don’t think anyone in my position has consistently been able to drive that close. At least as far as I can remember, in recent years, I haven’t seen many drivers be able to achieve that step,” he stressed. “The pace is there and I don’t think a normal driver can hold my position yet,” he concluded, hinting that his departure was due to Red Bull’s unrealistic demands.
