Yuki Tsunoda has highlighted the importance of mental rest following an intense first half of the 2025 Formula 1 season that concluded at the Hungarian Grand Prix. After completing 14 rounds, the F1 calendar will resume with the next Grand Prix starting on August 29, marking a crucial period for Tsunoda to regroup and prepare.
Joining the Red Bull Formula 1 team from Round 3, Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson, who moved to Racing Bulls. Despite high expectations for this partnership based in Milton Keynes, Tsunoda’s results have not met forecasts, prompting a strategic pause focused on psychological and physical readiness.
Performance Challenges and Tsunoda’s Current Standings
In the drivers’ championship, Tsunoda is positioned 18th with just 10 points, lagging considerably behind his teammate Max Verstappen, who is third in the standings with 185 points and two race wins. The most recent race at Hungary saw Tsunoda finish 17th, trailing behind Haas driver Esteban Ocon.
Reflecting on his season, Tsunoda stated,
“For the summer break, I want to focus on mental rest and training. Looking back at the first half of the year, since the floor upgrade, we’ve gotten pretty close to Max. The gap in Spa and Q1 this time was small. Honestly, looking at the past few years, I don’t think there’s another driver who’s gotten within 0.1 seconds of him.”
—Yuki Tsunoda, F1 Driver
He also identified communication and performance consistency as key areas to improve, saying,
“The team sees this positively, and I’m thinking positively too. The biggest challenge heading into the second half of the season is communication with the engineers, and then consistency.”
—Yuki Tsunoda, F1 Driver
Tsunoda’s Objectives for the Season’s Second Half
Despite securing a seat in the Red Bull main team in 2025, Tsunoda faces uncertainty about his future beyond this year. Among the contenders for the Red Bull seats in 2026, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar has emerged as a leading candidate for the second spot alongside Verstappen.
With ten Grand Prix events remaining, Tsunoda is determined to enhance his results. He declared,
“My goal for the second half is to go for points.”
—Yuki Tsunoda, F1 Driver
Compared to other Red Bull-affiliated drivers on the 2025 grid, Tsunoda holds the lowest position, while Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar are ranked 15th and 13th respectively. This competitive environment places added pressure on Tsunoda as he approaches the Dutch Grand Prix and the remainder of the season.
Upcoming Prospects and Season Outlook
The upcoming F1 summer break offers Tsunoda a vital opportunity to focus on mental rest and training, aiming to close the gap to Verstappen and improve race-day consistency. His focus on communication with engineers reflects an awareness of the technical collaboration necessary to achieve better performance.
How Tsunoda rebounds after this break will significantly influence both his position in the driver standings and his future with the Red Bull program. The next rounds will test whether his renewed focus on mental rest and strategic training can translate into stronger results on the track.
