Tsunoda: Verstappen Comparison ‘Unfair’ Due to Car Differences

The Red Bull team dynamic has often appeared asymmetrically weighted, featuring a dominant lead driver while the second seat experiences frequent personnel changes. Occupants of this second position face immense pressure to demonstrate their capabilities rapidly, often under unfavorable conditions. Max Verstappen, a multiple-time world champion, undoubtedly embodies exceptional talent, yet objective comparative assessments are challenging when secondary drivers lack consistent car specifications, particularly given the RB21’s intricate nature.

Yuki Tsunoda, who took over the seat from Racing Bulls after Liam Lawson’s brief stint, following Lawson’s earlier elevation within the Red Bull Junior Team, has managed only a handful of top-ten finishes since his promotion. His time with Red Bull has been marked by notable incidents, including a qualifying crash at Imola that damaged a new floor component.

However, in Belgium recently, Tsunoda reached Q3 for the first time since Miami after receiving an updated floor between the sprint race and qualifying sessions. Despite not finishing in the top ten subsequently, this outcome was primarily due to communication errors within Red Bull, which delayed his switch to slick tires.

Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged the team’s responsibility for the strategy mishap. Questions still arise because even the upgraded floor wasn’t identical to Verstappen’s spec, and Tsunoda’s RB21 retained older components, including the front wing, as the team approached the Hungary Grand Prix.

“Missing the points is not ideal at all,” Tsunoda shared with reporters in Hungary. “But one thing that helps me is definitely, with my engineering side, with my side of the garage, at least we know that there’s clear progress and a clear pace.”

Tsunoda’s position seems secure until the end of the racing season, but a constant benchmark for any driver remains their teammate’s performance. The divide between Tsunoda and Verstappen persists; Red Bull generally expects the second driver to be within approximately three-tenths of a second per lap of Verstappen’s pace, and exceeding this threshold could jeopardize their future.

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Sutton Images via Getty Images

Initially, Tsunoda seemed to downplay the challenges of navigating a car with unpredictable handling, drawing from simulator experience. However, he now faces the reality of competing alongside an exceptional driver. Yet, he remains optimistic about narrowing the gap, provided he has access to the same equipment.

“You know, how he [Verstappen] always extracts performance consistently every session, every grand prix, is very impressive,” said Tsunoda. “It’s not things that you can do very easily. And it seems like he can. It looks like he does it very easily.”

“But at the same time, I just don’t think it’s fair to compare. And I don’t want to directly compare with him because he’s been here nine years in that car and I’m just jumping into the car.”

“And also, I’m not – well, let’s see if I get exactly the same car. Until that point, I can’t compare directly.

“But until then, I’m just focused on myself because I know clearly what I can improve and I just progress in my own way, step by step.”

Given that Mekies reportedly holds a more favorable view of Tsunoda than Horner, stemming from their previous collaboration at Racing Bulls, Tsunoda might receive his desired equal footing sooner than anticipated. Additionally, having a team principal with an extensive engineering background, who is less burdened by marketing demands, should offer Yuki the necessary support.

However, the central question looms: can anyone realistically aspire to rival or surpass Verstappen, even with identical resources? The challenge is undeniably formidable.