Max Verstappen believes that there should be a greater onus on Red Bull to develop a more competitive Formula 1 car than on Yuki Tsunoda to give stronger support.
Verstappen remains less than a race win behind leader Oscar Piastri one third into the 2025 campaign, but Red Bull languishes a sizeable 172 points behind McLaren.
The second seat alongside Verstappen is now renowned as a poisoned chalice and Red Bull did little to dispel that when Liam Lawson was dropped inside two races.
But although he has shown more promise than his predecessor since moving up to partner Verstappen, Tsunoda has accumulated seven points in the last six rounds.
Red Bull’s situation marks a visible contrast to McLaren’s position as Piastri and Lando Norris have maintained a consistent presence at the sharp end each weekend.
However, Verstappen has highlighted that Tsunoda’s contribution would become irrelevant in the scenario where Red Bull possessed a dominant package once again.
“Well, I think as a team you want both cars in the best possible position,” the Dutchman told media including Motorsport Week in Monaco last weekend.
“But look at 2023, for example. If we have a good car, you will be fast and then it doesn’t matter what the other teams do in terms of strategy because you will beat them.
“We have to make sure that we put ourselves back in that position. At the moment, sometimes it works – in Imola, it was fine.
“When the car is working and you are comfortable with what you’re doing, then it doesn’t matter what the other strategies are from the other cars or teams around you because you just follow your own strongest strategy.
“But naturally, as a team, we want to finish 1-2 every single weekend – but that’s tough at the moment.
“We have very strong competition. McLaren is doing a great job. So we just keep working, trying to improve – for myself, for Yuki – and we’ll see in the coming races what we can do.”
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