Red Bull’s Difficult Season: Insights into the Struggles of Their Drivers

Formula 1, as one of the most demanding motorsports in the world, is filled with intense rivalries, high-stakes moments, and the pressure to perform at the very highest level. Teams and drivers alike must constantly adapt, evolve, and perform at the edge of their abilities. This season, Red Bull Racing has experienced its own unique set of challenges, especially with the performance of the team’s second seat driver. While the team’s dominance has been evident over the years, the second seat has been a problematic spot for several drivers, a trend that continues in 2025.

Yuki Tsunoda, promoted to the main Red Bull team in Japan, has been finding it difficult to adjust to the car’s setup and demands. Despite his obvious potential, the Japanese driver’s results have fallen short of expectations, leaving the team with questions about the design and adaptability of their car, especially when compared to teammate Max Verstappen. As the second Red Bull seat has historically proven difficult for various drivers, what does this mean for Red Bull’s approach to car design and driver development?

Yuki Tsunoda’s Struggles: A Rough Start at Red Bull

The 2025 season started on a high note for Red Bull, but as the year progressed, Tsunoda’s performance remained far behind that of his teammate, Verstappen. By the end of the first half of the season, Tsunoda had only scored seven points out of a possible 12 races, and in the last seven races, he has yet to score a single point. These results are a stark contrast to Verstappen’s consistency and dominance at the front of the pack. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, Tsunoda showed glimpses of improvement, narrowing the gap to Verstappen during qualifying. However, his race performance fell short, finishing 17th, a lap down from the leaders.

While the performance gap between the two Red Bull drivers is often a talking point, Tsunoda’s struggles are not entirely unexpected. Several drivers have faced similar difficulties in the second seat at Red Bull, especially in the past. Tsunoda’s predicament raises the question of whether Red Bull’s car is simply not suited to his driving style or whether there are other underlying factors contributing to his challenges.

The Red Bull Second Seat: A History of Struggles

Tsunoda isn’t the first driver to struggle in the second Red Bull seat, and he certainly won’t be the last. In fact, the team’s second seat has a notorious reputation for being a challenging environment for drivers. Pierre Gasly, who is currently driving for Alpine, was demoted back to the Red Bull junior team after a lackluster stint alongside Verstappen in 2019. Gasly’s struggles, though not entirely his fault, were a result of the immense pressure of being in a car that appeared to be tailored more to Verstappen’s driving style than to any other driver.

Alex Albon faced similar challenges, as did Sergio Perez. Each of these drivers found themselves unable to match Verstappen’s performance consistently, leading to their eventual departures from the team or the loss of their seat. Even more recently, Liam Lawson, who had a brief stint in the second seat, was dropped after just two races, showing how unforgiving Red Bull can be when results don’t come quickly.

These repeated struggles have led to speculation that Red Bull’s car design may be optimized specifically for Verstappen. Although the team has vehemently denied this, technical director Pierre Wach has been clear that the goal of the team is simply to make the fastest car possible, regardless of the driver. However, the repeated struggles of Red Bull’s second-seat drivers raise the question of whether their car setup is truly as neutral as the team suggests.

The Verstappen Effect: A Car Tailored to His Driving Style?

Max Verstappen is widely regarded as one of the most talented drivers in Formula 1 today, but his success may not just be due to his natural ability. Verstappen has made it clear in recent interviews that the RB21, the car he drives for Red Bull, isn’t one that he particularly enjoys. Instead, he adapts to it, working around its limitations to extract the maximum performance. He explained in an interview with Chris Harris on the Ford Performance YouTube channel that while he doesn’t enjoy the car’s setup, it is the fastest way to go around the track. Verstappen admitted that if he could, he would prefer different aspects of the car, but his ability to make the most of what he’s given is what sets him apart from other drivers.

This admission has led to further speculation about the car’s suitability for other drivers. While Verstappen may not be personally satisfied with the car, his ability to adapt to it has allowed him to consistently outperform his teammates. The question remains whether Red Bull has designed the car with Verstappen’s preferences and driving style at the forefront, making it more difficult for other drivers to achieve similar results.

Gasly’s Insight: Offering Support to Tsunoda

One of the drivers who has firsthand experience of Red Bull’s second seat is Pierre Gasly. As mentioned earlier, Gasly’s stint at Red Bull was not successful, and he was demoted to the junior team midway through the 2019 season. Since then, Gasly has found a new lease on life at AlphaTauri, now Alpine, where he has consistently delivered solid performances.

Gasly recently spoke about his relationship with Tsunoda, explaining that he has been offering advice and support to the Japanese driver as he faces his own challenges at Red Bull. In an interview with Racing News365, Gasly acknowledged that it is difficult to be in Tsunoda’s position and that, although he cannot share all the details of his own experience, he understands the strain that comes with being in the second seat at Red Bull.

Gasly went on to explain that there are certain situations that drivers cannot openly discuss due to the professional nature of the sport. However, he expressed empathy for Tsunoda’s struggles and emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and supporting the team. Gasly’s comments highlight the mental and emotional toll that can come with competing in such a high-pressure environment, especially when the results are not forthcoming.

The Challenges of Being a Red Bull Teammate

The disparity in results between Verstappen and his teammates has led many to wonder whether Red Bull’s car is simply too challenging for other drivers to handle. Red Bull’s technical team has continuously stated that their goal is to make the fastest car, and not necessarily one suited to Verstappen’s style. However, the consistent struggles of Tsunoda, Gasly, Albon, Perez, and others suggest that something more may be at play.

As the 2025 season progresses, it will be interesting to see how Red Bull approaches the development of their car and how they continue to support their drivers. The gap between Verstappen and his teammates is likely to remain a talking point throughout the season, and it will be essential for Tsunoda, in particular, to find a way to unlock the potential of the RB21 if he is to stay at Red Bull in the future.

In conclusion, while Red Bull continues to dominate the field, their second seat remains an area of concern. Tsunoda’s struggles are just the latest in a long line of challenges faced by drivers in that position. Whether Red Bull will adjust their car to better suit their second driver remains to be seen, but the importance of adaptability, team support, and driver mentality cannot be overstated in the unforgiving world of Formula 1.