Yuki Tsunoda, reflecting on his Formula 1 career changes, has shared his regret over leaving Racing Bulls for Red Bull during the 2025 season, highlighting how the decision meant missing out on what he now sees as a superior car. This admission provides fresh insight into his experience with the Red Bull organization, bringing the Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull regret into sharp focus as the F1 world moves toward another competitive season.
Tsunoda’s Red Bull Promotion and Missed Opportunity
At the start of the F1 2025 season, Yuki Tsunoda competed in the first two races behind the wheel of a Racing Bulls car, before being promoted to the main Red Bull team as a replacement for Liam Lawson. The Red Bull management expected Tsunoda’s addition to narrow the gap to Max Verstappen and strengthen the team’s Constructors’ Championship campaign.
However, Tsunoda’s time at Red Bull proved unexpectedly tough. Despite some growth in handling the difficult RB21 car, his highest achievement was sixth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He also suffered a significant setback in Imola, where a crash during qualifying not only hurt his confidence but also affected his access to key car upgrades, putting him at a disadvantage for the remainder of his campaign.
Mixed Results and Reflections on Performance
During his tenure, Tsunoda gathered a total of 33 points in the 2025 season—30 of them earned with Red Bull. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson, both driving the Racing Bulls car, outperformed him, with Hadjar amassing 51 points and Lawson totaling 38. This contrast became more notable as Tsunoda watched from the sidelines after being replaced by Hadjar and reassigned as a Red Bull reserve driver.
Looking back at his move, Tsunoda acknowledged the sense of loss for leaving behind a car he had helped develop over multiple seasons.
“Probably, I was saying that I didn’t have any regrets, but I mean the only regret I have is missing out on that pretty good f**king car… the VCARB,”
Tsunoda explained to media, including PlanetF1.com, ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“It is like throwing away your kids, your baby, because this is the car that I developed with the team throughout the years, since we had these regulations. I’m sure there’s my DNA inside that as well.”
– Yuki Tsunoda, Driver
“Missing out on that and finishing out without finally being able to get to the level that we wanted is something that I miss,”
Tsunoda said.
“But, at the same time, yeah, I don’t regret that decision [to join Red Bull], I would say, still now.”
– Yuki Tsunoda, Driver
The Racing Bulls Car: A Competitive Surprise
The Racing Bulls VCARB02 car, which Tsunoda left behind, proved to be more competitive and forgiving this season than anticipated, allowing its drivers to achieve strong qualifying positions and consistent race results. Tsunoda’s personal highlight in the VCARB02 was qualifying fifth in Australia, signaling the car’s improvement under current regulations.
The technical attributes of the Racing Bulls car were noted by Peter Bayer, the team’s CEO, who commented on the importance of creating a vehicle that inspires driver confidence. Bayer highlighted the unpredictable nature of modern ground effect cars and how even small differences in track or weather conditions could have significant effects on performance.
“I think, with these ground effect cars, driveability is performance,”
said Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls, to PlanetF1.com.
“Then you go to a track that has a different asphalt, and you’re nowhere.”
– Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls
Challenges and Lessons from the 2025 Season
Tsunoda’s 2025 journey didn’t meet the high hopes associated with his promotion. The crash at Imola was especially damaging, as it left him trailing on car development and hurt his season’s momentum.
“Imola, for sure, is something that I look back on that frustrates me a lot still,”
he said.
“The crash I had was very unnecessary and also I couldn’t avoid. For sure, that made myself step back in terms of parts.”
– Yuki Tsunoda, Driver
Throughout the season, Tsunoda was forced to watch as both Hadjar and Lawson took full advantage of the Racing Bulls package and scored more consistently. Despite not returning to a Racing Bulls seat, Tsunoda remains within the Red Bull organization, now serving as a reserve driver and contemplating his next steps in a rapidly evolving Formula 1 landscape.
Implications for Tsunoda, Red Bull, and the Future F1 Grid
Yuki Tsunoda’s experience highlights the uncertainty and volatility of Formula 1 careers, where timing and technical developments can greatly influence success. The Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull regret story will undoubtedly add to discussions about driver moves, especially as the 2026 driver line-up is already taking shape with high-profile figures like Lewis Hamilton confirmed for major seats. The lessons of 2025 stand as a reminder for drivers and teams alike: sometimes, the car left behind can become the one that shapes competitive fortunes and long-term reputations.
