Alex Albon has spoken about the situation Yuki Tsunoda is facing at Red Bull, citing his own experience with the Formula 1 giants.
The Japanese driver has been struggling since joining the Milton Keynes-based squad from the Japanese Grand Prix onwards, finding adaptation to the RB21 hard.
Tsunoda has, by all accounts, followed a notable trend of second drivers – much of whom Red Bull juniors – that have struggled to get close to team-mate Max Verstappen.
Albon was one of these, replacing Pierre Gasly, another struggler, midway through the 2019 season, and latterly lose his drive at the end of 2020.
The Williams explained that he remains in close contact with Tsunoda as he navigates the challenge of competing alongside Verstappen, and can relate to what he is currently experiencing.
Reflecting on his own time with the team, Albon admitted it was only with the benefit of “hindsight” that he understood the position he had been in.
“I empathise with it. I see it quite clearly.” Albon explained on the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast.
“I think it’s split in many ways. The time that I was at Red Bull, I joined six months into my Formula 1 career, and I just realised, in hindsight, I was in a predicament when I joined the team at Red Bull, because I had a car that I wasn’t comfortable with, and I didn’t know, I didn’t have the experience to get myself out of it.
“I struggled with it, but my experience level wasn’t to the point, and my maturity as a human being, to understand how to get myself out of that situation.
“I see it now, and I understand the same feelings.”
Albon added: “I speak with Yuki a lot, and try to help him in any way I can.”
Albon praises Verstappen as a benchmark
Since Daniel Ricciardo departed from Red Bull at the end of 2018, the team has cycled through several drivers in search of a consistent partner for Verstappen.
Pierre Gasly, Albon, Sergio Perez, and now Tsunoda have all faced the challenge of competing alongside the Dutch driver.
Albon suggested that Verstappen’s ability to adapt to a car’s limitations is what makes him so difficult to match.
“It’s hard. I think you’ve got, on the other side of the garage, arguably the best driver that’s driven a Formula 1 car.
“I mean, that’s the big statement, I know, but, I do really mean that.
“He can drive a car that’s not comfortable to drive. And I think he can hide a lot of problems, and he’s the one that can clearly drive it.”
Tsunoda is the latest driver with that challenge, and Albon acknowledged that the circumstances are familiar to him.
When asked whether he had acted as a coach for Tsunoda, Albon confirmed: “I did. We have a great relationship and I really love Yuki.”
Tsunoda, who replaced Liam Lawson at Red Bull after just two races of the 2025 season, is under pressure to secure his future with the team.
Reports suggest that Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar is in line for a promotion in 2026. The suggestion is that Lawson and Tsunoda are competing for seats at Racing Bulls.
Albon has sought to provide advice to Tsunoda as he faces the same scrutiny and expectations that come with being Verstappen’s teammate.
READ MORE – The ‘coaching’ Yuki Tsunoda has received as Red Bull F1 drive hangs in the balance
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