Yuki Tsunoda delivered his best-ever result with Red Bull at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing sixth and forcing reconsideration of his place within the team as it prepares for its 2026 driver lineup. This performance arrived just days after Isack Hadjar seemed poised to claim the seat, but Tsunoda’s boost in pace during the Baku weekend has left Red Bull reflecting on their next steps without rushing a decision.
Red Bull Takes Time to Assess Tsunoda’s 2024 Performance
The Japanese driver has faced challenges adapting to the RB21, scoring only nine points across his first 14 races this season. However, Tsunoda indicated a turning point during Friday’s practice sessions in Baku, commenting that “now it makes sense” as he showed improved speed in long runs. This upward trend culminated on race day, where he held off a strong push from Lando Norris to secure sixth place in the 51-lap event, marking his top finish for Red Bull so far.
Laurent Mekies, Red Bull’s team principal, acknowledged that Tsunoda’s race was his strongest with the Milton Keynes outfit. He highlighted the significant pace difference between Tsunoda and race winner Max Verstappen, noting that throughout the weekend, Tsunoda was just fractions of a second behind the dominant leader.
I think it’s his best race with us this year,
Mekies said.
I think he was strong in qualifying; he was very strong in the race.
He added,
You know the clever guys will get the number right, but he was sometimes two, sometimes three, sometimes four-tenths away from Max. And Max was pulling away from everyone with that pace, so it was very, very serious pace.
Mekies further explained that the team had expected Tsunoda to engage in heavy defending against competitors from McLaren and Ferrari to support Verstappen’s win chase, but instead, Tsunoda maintained position without the need for such defensive tactics.
We thought he will have to defend very hard against McLaren and Ferrari to help with Max chasing the win, and he didn’t have to defend.
The principal emphasized Tsunoda’s merit-based performance, noting that Lando Norris was unable to apply substantial pressure from behind, underscoring both Tsunoda’s result and race pace as a milestone for his tenure at Red Bull.
It was actually there on merit and, and Lando stayed behind him and didn’t put much pressure on him. So it’s his best, not only result, but also race pace with us.
Referring to Tsunoda’s progress, Mekies remarked,
It was really the one thing we wanted that probably was the most important for us to get that sort of clean sample, we said last time. And I think he was listening, and it’s good.
The Factors Behind Tsunoda’s Improved Performance at Baku
Mekies refrained from detailing the exact changes or improvements that allowed Tsunoda to unlock upgraded pace in his RB21. Instead, he credited extensive efforts from the team, including numerous hours spent in the simulator working to identify performance gains.
Obviously we are not going to go into much detail for obvious reasons,
Mekies said.
Everybody in Milton Keynes has been pushing hard, never giving up on that car to try to see why it wasn’t performing as well as numbers suggested, and that includes the drivers in the loop, as we call the simulator.
He stressed the importance of feedback from both Verstappen and Tsunoda in this development process.
Hence, the inputs from Max and Yuki are vital to get these steps. They are the best sensors in the car. They certainly have contributed a lot to unlock the step in performance we seem to have found in these conditions.
Impact of Tsunoda’s Form on Red Bull’s 2026 Driver Decisions
This surge in Tsunoda’s performance complicates Red Bull’s internal discussions on who will partner Verstappen in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Just days before the Azerbaijan GP, Isack Hadjar’s strong form, including two top-ten finishes and a podium in Zandvoort, appeared to secure him the seat. Yet, Tsunoda’s Baku outcome has reinserted him into the conversation.
Insiders reveal that Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko has already told Hadjar he will join the senior squad next season, but Mekies maintains that the team remains patient and deliberate in making final choices.
All four Red Bull-affiliated drivers scored points in Baku, with Verstappen winning, Liam Lawson achieving a personal best of fifth place in the Racing Bulls car, Tsunoda in sixth, and Hadjar eleventh.
Mekies described the situation positively, underlining the depth of talent within the driver lineup.
It’s good news for us, it’s good news,
he said.
That’s what we wish, that our drivers have performed.
He added that Tsunoda’s consistent pace justifies a relaxed approach to the decision-making process.
It’s good news to see Yuki keeping up, he deserves it.
According to Mekies, speed and confidence improve over time—qualities that are essential in Formula One—and he indicated the team will make its choice over several upcoming races instead of rushing before the season ends.
It’s why you see us relaxed about it, because we have time. Why would we rush? Because drivers, you know, speed doesn’t disappear, drivers makes progress, and it’s such a confidence business.
And you see, the confidence of Yuki’s weekend was certainly high up. And he did very, very, very, very strongly. So, we have more time, as we said, we will not wait until Abu Dhabi, but we have a few more races.
What This Means for Red Bull and Their Driver Lineup Going Forward
Tsunoda’s standout drive in Baku has injected renewed uncertainty into Red Bull’s driver plans, reflecting the team’s careful balancing act between nurturing developing talent and deploying proven performers alongside Verstappen. His improved performance, combined with sustained pressure from contenders like Hadjar and Lawson, ensures Red Bull’s driver decision process will remain dynamic as the 2025 season progresses.
By delaying the final call, Red Bull keeps competitive options open while simultaneously motivating all candidates to elevate their form in the remaining races. For Tsunoda, this latest result offers a crucial reminder that persistence and adaptation can revive prospects even amid earlier struggles.
