Yuki Tsunoda indicated that ‘finding a solution’ following the Monza race was instrumental in his significantly improved showing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, especially considering ongoing discussions about his place in Formula 1.
The driver, aged 25, achieved a commendable sixth position in both qualifying and the race itself in Baku, which stands as his highest achievement since his move to Red Bull from Racing Bulls in the third event of the 2025 season.
This result provided a welcome boost during what has been a largely underwhelming season for Tsunoda, who currently holds 17th place in the driver standings with only a handful of points-scoring finishes, struggling to manage the often-unpredictable RB21 car – a similar challenge faced by his predecessor, Liam Lawson.
In stark contrast, his teammate, the reigning world champion Max Verstappen, occupies third position in the championship after seventeen races, boasting four Grand Prix victories this year, including consecutive wins in Monza and Baku.
Therefore, it’s likely not accidental that Tsunoda’s improved performance coincided with advancements to the RB21 car, which featured an updated floor in Monza, alongside changes to the team’s technical strategy implemented by the new team principal, Laurent Mekies.
These changes included a greater emphasis on driver feedback, leading to Verstappen achieving his desired setup in Italy, and Tsunoda making a significant discovery during his simulator sessions since then.
“I definitely made a breakthrough there,” Tsunoda explained. “I’ve just begun adopting this method, and while I’m probably not at the level Max is currently, I’m improving gradually, and I believe I wasn’t as behind as I was during the previous race weekend.”
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Bryn Lennon / Formula 1 / Getty Images
“So it’s definitely a positive step, and I also think it reflects some personal improvement from my side as I’ve been putting in effort over the past few weeks. The extra hours in the simulator and other things seem to be paying off to some extent. So, I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing.”
Tsunoda specifically noted his improved performance in long-distance running, considering his established strength in qualifying, with six Q3 appearances since joining Red Bull.
This progress has certainly caught the attention of Mekies, who was particularly impressed by Tsunoda’s ability to fend off Lando Norris, driving the leading McLaren, late in the Baku race.
“I believe this was his strongest race with us this year,” stated Mekies, who took over from Horner as the Red Bull team principal in July, having previously served as the principal at Racing Bulls.
“He demonstrated strength in qualifying yesterday and was very strong during the race. The knowledgeable individuals will confirm the figures, but he was consistently within two, three, or four tenths of Max, and Max was outpacing everyone, indicating a very competitive pace.”
“We anticipated he would have to defend aggressively against McLaren and Ferrari, which would also benefit Max in his pursuit of the win, but he didn’t need to defend.”
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images
“He earned his position, and Lando remained behind him without applying much pressure. So this was his best showing with us, not only in terms of the result but also in terms of race pace.”
The Baku event could improve Tsunoda’s prospects of remaining with Red Bull for the upcoming year, demonstrating his capabilities when the weekend progresses smoothly and he avoids involvement in midfield incidents.
This aligns with Mekies’s objective of obtaining “clean samples” to evaluate Tsunoda for 2026, especially after Tsunoda sustained floor damage during his point-less race in Monza.
“Achieving that clean sample was probably the most critical thing for us,” Mekies added, also referencing Tsunoda’s 17th-place finish in Hungary just before the summer recess.
“So, I’m very pleased for him. He is working diligently; he has consistently been committed to working hard. Following a challenging period in Budapest, we discussed it, and he went straight to the simulator instead of taking a vacation, stating, ‘No, I’ll return to the simulator with the team and work tomorrow’.”
“And that’s the approach he’s taking. Every weekend when there’s no race, he’s working with his engineers or working on improving his driving. And I am delighted to see him demonstrating progress.”
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Red Bull is expected to reveal Verstappen’s teammate for the 2026 season by the end of October, with Racing Bulls’ rookie Isack Hadjar currently leading as the favorite after his podium finish in Zandvoort.
However, his promotion isn’t guaranteed yet, as the newfound confidence that Tsunoda gained in Baku could lead to a strong finish in 2025, returning to the performance levels he showed before his move to Red Bull.
“It’s encouraging to see Yuki maintaining his form,” Mekies stated. “He has earned it, which is why we are taking our time because we are not in a rush. As we know, drivers don’t simply lose their speed; they continue to make progress.”
“And confidence is a significant factor in this sport, and Yuki’s confidence was certainly high this weekend. He performed exceptionally well. So, as we mentioned, we have more time and won’t wait until Abu Dhabi, but we will certainly take a few more races into consideration.”
Additional reporting by Cihangir Perperik and Ronald Vording
