Max Verstappen has come to the defense of his Red Bull teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, stating emphatically that Tsunoda “isn’t a pancake,” following the latter`s disappointing last-place finish in Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying.
Finding a consistent and performing teammate for the four-time consecutive world champion Verstappen has been a challenge for Red Bull, particularly since Sergio Perez`s performance levels saw a significant dip early last season.
According to the article, Perez was reportedly replaced at the close of the 2024 season, with Liam Lawson stepping up from Racing Bulls. Subsequently, Tsunoda is stated to have dramatically taken over from Lawson after just two rounds of the 2025 campaign.
While Tsunoda has shown moments of promise, he has largely struggled this season, accumulating only seven points over six races. In contrast, Verstappen has secured two victories and two additional podium finishes during the same period.
Prior to Perez, both Pierre Gasly and Alex Albon were Verstappen`s teammates and were also moved on by Red Bull after they found it difficult to match the Dutch driver`s pace. Both drivers, however, have since become established and respected competitors in the sport.
Addressing Tsunoda`s difficulties at the Barcelona circuit on Saturday, Verstappen commented to Dutch reporters, “Yuki isn’t a pancake. This [situation with the second Red Bull driver] has been ongoing for a considerable time.” He then added, “Maybe that’s a sign. A sign of what? You can draw your own conclusions.”
The precise meaning behind Verstappen`s remarks remains open to interpretation. They could be alluding to his own exceptional driving capabilities, potential limitations or characteristics of Red Bull`s cars, or perhaps a combination of both factors.
Tsunoda: “It`s a Pretty Tough Situation”
Tsunoda himself appeared visibly dejected after his qualifying exit. He admitted to being “happy” with his initial lap, only to learn that it was only good enough for the very back of the grid.
The 25-year-old`s Q1 time was six-tenths of a second slower than his teammate`s performance, with Verstappen ultimately qualifying third on the grid.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, the Japanese driver explained his struggles: “Suddenly compared to any other Grand Prix I lost performance quite significantly.”
“Since FP1, the amount of grip I had was very low. Something strange was happening,” he continued.
“We tried our best to cure the issue but, to be honest, whatever we did, we made a better balance but it was not, overall, a step forward.”
“The lap I had in Q1 I was pretty happy with it, the confidence was there but the grip itself is not following at all. It`s a pretty tough situation.”
Tsunoda mentioned asking for his car`s floor to be checked during Q1 after he went over a kerb. However, he wasn`t sure immediately after the session whether any potential damage played a role in his lack of pace.
He elaborated: “It’s hard to tell. I will have to see if there’s damage or not. I don’t think our ride was crazy. It was still an acceptable level.”
“From lap 1 [of the weekend], there was no pace, so it wasn’t like I suddenly lost performance. I’m currently struggling.”
In the official press release issued by Red Bull following qualifying, team principal Christian Horner acknowledged that Tsunoda`s difficulties in Spain were “difficult to understand.”
“Yuki has struggled all weekend,” Horner stated.
“We went up a little on the downforce to try and help him but it`s difficult to understand, we will need to have a look at it.”
