Max Verstappen defended his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda, who qualified last for the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen emphatically stated that Tsunoda “isn`t a pancake” following the unexpected result.
Finding a suitable partner for the four-time world champion Verstappen has been a challenge for Red Bull since Sergio Perez`s form noticeably dropped last season. Following Perez`s departure at the end of 2024, Liam Lawson was initially promoted from Racing Bulls, but Tsunoda quickly replaced him after only two rounds of the 2025 season.
Despite some promising moments, Tsunoda has largely struggled, collecting just seven points across six races. In the same period, Verstappen has secured two victories and two other podium finishes.
Before Perez, Verstappen`s teammates included Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon. Both drivers were eventually moved on by Red Bull after finding it difficult to match Verstappen`s pace, although they have since established themselves as respected competitors elsewhere in Formula 1.
Discussing Tsunoda`s struggles during Saturday`s qualifying in Barcelona, Verstappen told Dutch reporters: “Yuki isn`t a pancake. This [situation with the second Red Bull driver] has been ongoing for a while. Perhaps that`s a sign. Of what? You can interpret that yourself.”
Verstappen`s comments were open to interpretation, potentially hinting at his own exceptional ability, the specific demands of the Red Bull car setup, or a combination of factors. Verstappen is widely considered the grid`s top driver and is known for his capacity to master car characteristics and setups that others, even highly skilled drivers, find perplexing.
Tsunoda: A Pretty Tough Situation
Tsunoda appeared disheartened after his early exit from qualifying. He admitted feeling “happy” with his lap initially, only to discover it was slow enough to place him at the very back of the field.
His fastest lap in Q1 was six tenths slower than Verstappen`s time in the same session. Verstappen went on to secure third place on the grid.
Speaking about his difficulties, the Japanese driver explained that his performance had significantly decreased compared to previous Grands Prix. He reported experiencing very low grip since the first practice session, describing it as “something strange.” Despite their best efforts to address the issue and improve the balance, he felt there was no overall improvement in pace. He had confidence during his Q1 lap, but the necessary grip simply wasn`t there, calling it a “pretty tough situation.”
During Q1, Tsunoda had requested a check of his car`s floor after running over a kerb. However, he was unsure immediately after the session whether potential damage contributed to his lack of speed.
He added that it was “hard to tell” if there was damage and that the team would need to investigate. He felt the car`s ride wasn`t excessively harsh and was at an “acceptable level.” Since the very first lap of the weekend, the pace was missing, indicating it wasn`t a sudden loss of performance but a persistent struggle throughout the event.
In Red Bull`s official press release following the qualifying session, Team Principal Christian Horner acknowledged that Tsunoda`s struggles in Spain were “difficult to understand.”
Horner stated, “Yuki has struggled all weekend.”
He added, “We went up a little on the downforce to try and help him, but it`s difficult to understand. We will need to have a look at it.”
Gilbert Pendleton