Yuki Tsunoda finished ninth at the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix after starting the race from 12th place, marking only his fourth points finish since joining Red Bull this season. The Japanese driver’s performance was impacted by strategic missteps and unfortunate timing during the race, according to Red Bull’s new Team Principal, Laurent Mekies. These issues contributed significantly to Tsunoda’s Dutch GP struggles.
Key Challenges Behind Tsunoda’s Race Performance in the Netherlands
Since replacing Liam Lawson at Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda has found it difficult to deliver consistent results alongside teammate Max Verstappen. While Verstappen reached the podium at Zaandvoort, Tsunoda has managed just four points finishes out of 13 races this year, excluding sprints. At the Dutch GP, after starting on soft tires from 12th on the grid, Tsunoda was running well within the points before the race’s first pitstop phase.
Laurent Mekies revealed that an unfortunate safety car deployment negatively affected Tsunoda’s track position. Lewis Hamilton crashed on Lap 23 just after Tsunoda’s pitstop, triggering a safety car that helped other drivers make cheap pitstops, but left Tsunoda disadvantaged. Mekies explained the impact of the timing on Tsunoda’s race outcome:
“Yuki was a bit unfortunate with the first safety car timing because he was one of the one of two cars, [it] was him and Charles I think that had pitted before. So he lost like four or five positions, just because everybody got a cheap [pit] stop. But before that, he was in front of Antonelli. So if you look at the normal cycle, he would probably be around P7 [at the] end of the race. So he got a bit unfortunate there.” —Laurent Mekies, Team Principal
Despite the setback, Tsunoda was able to climb back into the points zone, aided by incidents and penalties involving other drivers. However, the safety car timing was not the sole factor hindering his race day progress.
Technical Issues Hampered Tsunoda During Final Stint at Dutch GP
Following his final pitstop, Tsunoda rejoined the track behind Oliver Bearman, Lance Stroll, and Fernando Alonso. While Bearman and Stroll managed to overtake Alonso, Tsunoda struggled with his car’s power unit performance. Mekies clarified that this was not due to a mechanical failure but rather a strategic error involving the car’s power settings:
“It was not a PU problem, just to make things clear,” said Mekies. We were locked into the wrong map after the final stop. Basically, when you are in the pit lane, you are changing maps, and if you don’t change back, you are locked into it for the rest of the time. That’s what happened. So he basically drove the final part with a really, really not friendly throttle map.” —Laurent Mekies, Team Principal
This programming mistake affected Tsunoda’s throttle response for the remainder of the race, further limiting his ability to gain positions in crucial moments. His difficulties epitomize a broader pattern of challenges the driver has faced throughout the season with Red Bull’s second car.
What Tsunoda’s Dutch GP Performance Means Going Forward
Currently placed 19th in the Formula 1 standings with just 12 points, Yuki Tsunoda’s season reflects an ongoing struggle to adapt and compete at Red Bull’s level. The Dutch GP illustrated how race-day strategy and technical oversights can compound a driver’s troubles, especially when coupled with unfortunate race incidents. As Red Bull adjusts to new leadership under Laurent Mekies and seeks to optimize race strategies, addressing these issues will be essential for Tsunoda to show progress.
The frustrations visible in Tsunoda’s Dutch GP race highlight the fine margins in Formula 1, where strategy and timing can decisively influence outcomes. For the Japanese driver, overcoming these hurdles remains critical to challenging his remarkable teammate, Max Verstappen, and to establishing himself firmly within the team’s framework in future events.
