Yuki Tsunoda delivered an impressive drive at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, held at the Baku City Street Circuit, where Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured first place. Tsunoda demonstrated the speed and composure that many doubted he possessed, showing his capability in a high-pressure race, during a period when speculation surrounds possible driver changes involving Red Bull and Racing Bulls for the current season or 2026.
Tsunoda’s Inner Conflict Over Risky Moves During the Race
After the race, Tsunoda spoke with RacingNews365 about the intense emotions he experienced while racing, which tempted him to attempt bold overtakes. However, he ultimately chose caution over risk. His mindset was largely influenced by his battle with Liam Lawson, who narrowly managed to overtake Tsunoda following a 20.3-second pit stop.
“I had a lot of emotions [convincing me] that I wanted to overtake, and [do] some hero thing, some [heroic] stuff in overtaking, but yeah, [I had to] slow down.” Yuki Tsunoda, racer
Tsunoda also reflected on the pit stop timing, believing that a slightly quicker return to the track might have allowed him to hold off Lawson.
“If I had been able to rejoin two metres faster, probably I would have been able to keep Liam [Lawson] behind.” Yuki Tsunoda, racer
Personal Growth and Pride in Team Achievement
The 25-year-old expressed pride in his overall performance and satisfaction that his efforts contributed positively to Red Bull’s results.
“I feel like I have unlocked something that I can take into future races. We’ve put together a strong weekend here in Azerbaijan, where we showed the performance that we’ve wanted to for a long time. So, scoring my best result with the team feels deserved.” Yuki Tsunoda, racer
Red Bull’s Team Principal Applauds Tsunoda’s Consistency
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s team boss, praised Tsunoda’s race execution, emphasizing the importance of his clean and effective performance in a tight competition.
“Yuki [Tsunoda] had a very strong race, keeping the McLaren and Ferrari behind him. He needed a clean weekend and he performed really well scoring important points for the Team in what is his best result of the season.” Laurent Mekies, Red Bull team principal
This strong result has moved Tsunoda up to 17th in the driver standings, placing him two spots higher than his rank after the Italian Grand Prix. He now sits ahead of fellow drivers Ollie Bearman and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Standings Update and Season Outlook
Despite Tsunoda’s progress, his predecessor at Red Bull, Liam Lawson, remains ten points ahead with a total of 30, bolstered by his fifth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Tsunoda’s score of 20 points highlights his growing presence but also the competitive challenge he faces within the team and the wider field this season.
As the season continues, Tsunoda’s ability to maintain this level of performance will be critical, especially with ongoing discussions around team line-ups. His display in Baku not only boosts his confidence but also signals to Red Bull that he is capable of delivering under pressure in future races.
