Latest news with #OracleRedBullRacing
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Confirms Yuki Tsunoda's Future Will be Decided After Summer Break
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull Racing senior advisor Helmut Marko has confirmed that Yuki Tsunoda's performance will be evaluated after the summer break, which will decide his future with the team. Tsunoda's current Red Bull contract expires after the current season. The Japanese driver was promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull after the Chinese Grand Prix, replacing Liam Lawson, who was demoted to take his seat in the junior F1 team. Despite the positive move for Tsunoda, he has struggled to adapt to the RB21 F1 car, much like Lawson and his predecessor, Sergio Perez. Red Bull's challenger is reportedly suited to Max Verstappen, and thus, his teammates have found it difficult to get used to an otherwise sensitive car. Despite securing just 7 points in the 12 rounds since his promotion, the positive point for Tsunoda is that he is getting closer to Verstappen's pace. The previous Hungarian Grand Prix weekend saw him get knocked out in Q1 in qualifying, but his pace was three-tenths off of Verstappen's, who qualified in P8. Tsunoda ended up starting from the pit lane due to an engine penalty, as Red Bull fitted a fifth power unit in his RB21 exceeding the prescribed limit of 4 power units. Marko explained that the decision to swap power units in Hungary was a strategic one. He said: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 03, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary."Because he would have to change at maybe Monza or Zandvoort. And I think because of his starting position, it was strategically better to do it here." The 82-year-old advisor confirmed an improvement in Tsunoda's pace in qualifying as he closes the gap to his four-time world champion teammate. He added: "He was as near as never before, one-tenth he was behind. But unfortunately, he was dropped out in Q1. He's moving up." However, Tsunoda's future with Red Bull is still unclear for the 2026 season. Marko confirmed that the team is looking at all aspects for a future decision. He said: "Our driver evaluation traditionally takes place after the summer break. At the moment, everything is open. We're looking at performances – both positive and negative." Tsunoda opened up about the challenges he faces with the car, but remains confident about overcoming them. He said: "I didn't see yet so far the driver who probably got used to it in that car straight away. So that's probably the fact. But at the same time, I feel I'm in the right direction, at least on the short runs. "Also in terms of the whole package, I know there's something to come as well into this year compared to Max. So once I get the full package, I still have good confidence that I can be in a level that they want. That's what I'm working hard on. "In terms of the long run is exactly the place that I'm still probably struggling at, but I'll find a way. I saw a couple of driving styles that I can try that I never tried in my career in Formula 1. It's just the learning stuff."
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Max Verstappen's Claim of Not Winning Another Race in 2025 Comes Under Fire
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen has been called out for his statements that could potentially demotivate his team. The four-time world champion was disappointed after his P9 finish at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend, leading him to doubt if Red Bull would be able to win another race this season. Red Bull is enduring a tough year, given the problems with the RB21 F1 car that seems to be compromising Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda's pace. Tsunoda confirmed at the Hungaroring that, more than the car's balance, it was the low level of traction that held him back. The Japanese driver was knocked out of Q1 in qualifying, although he managed to get very close to Verstappen's qualifying pace. Tsunoda had to start from the pit lane after the FIA levied an engine penalty as Red Bull fitted a fifth power unit on his car, one more than the permitted limit of four. Verstappen made it into Q3 in qualifying by a tiny margin, securing a P8 start on the grid. However, he finished the race in P9, marking his worst finish this season after the P10 he secured in Spain. Considering the current state of affairs and the gap the McLaren drivers have created in the Drivers' Standings, Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko recently confirmed that Verstappen was out of the 2025 championship race. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 2, 2025 in Budapest,... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing answers questions in the TV media pen during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 2, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. MoreVerstappen, however, believes that his team could not even win a race this season if the current situation were to persist. When asked in Hungary if it was possible to win his third race this season, he said: "No, not the way things are going right now. That's just the way it is. It's clear. "There's nothing I can do about it. I could get angry, but that won't make the car any faster." Verstappen is currently placed third in the Drivers' Standings with 187 points, just 15 more than George Russell's tally of 172, who is in P4. Verstappen's comments may have highlighted the present reality at Red Bull, but Sky Sports F1 reporter Bernie Collins is not too happy with his approach. She told Sky F1: "I don't think any driver says we're not going to win anything this year as a motivator to the team. That's pretty demotivating if I were an engineer. I think that would really hit you a little bit." However, she acknowledged that it was a powerful way of pushing the team to overcome the technical challenges plaguing the car, especially with the arrival of Red Bull's new team principal, Laurent Mekies. Collins added: "So, I think he's hoping that with Laurent Mekies, a very tactical guy, they can get on top of the issues that this Red Bull has had for several seasons now. Get the second driver working well, and next year, they've got this real line in the sand, a real chance to start again. "But, they need to get on top of these fundamental issues that they've been having for a little while now. Max, I think, is just using it as a powerful way of communicating with the team, 'I am really not happy, and something needs to change in this car to make me happy'. "That's what will hopefully drive the entire engineering force behind him to get a car that he can be more competitive with next year."
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Liam Lawson Addresses Shocking Result Over Max Verstappen In Hungarian GP
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson finished ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen for the first time at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Lawson has been steadily improving with every race weekend, and the progress culminated in the last race before the summer break. Verstappen finished in ninth place after starting the race in seventh due to poor tire wear from the Red Bull car. On the other hand, Lawson finished in P8, wrapping up an impressive four-race stretch for the New Zealander. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing with Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing with Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Emilia-Romagna at Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari on May 18, 2025 in Imola, Italy. More Photo byHe has scored in three out of the last four races and enters the summer break with massive momentum. Lawson was ousted from Red Bull after just two races this season, being moved to Racing Bull, the energy drink team's "junior team" for all intents and purposes. The Kiwi was miles off Verstappen's pace during those two races, making his finishing above the four-time champion all the more notable. "I also saw [during] the first stint of the race, he was very quick at the start," Lawson told the media. "He got me on the first lap, and then I think they struggled more on tyres, so I was kind of hoping it would be the same [later on]. "I knew if I kept him there [behind me] for a few laps, maybe he would start to drop, and I think that's more or less what happened. "It's been a very tough year. I think it's hard to string together a series of good results in F1, and recently it's been good for us but, obviously, we have another whole second half to go, and we need to learn from what's working right now and try and take that forward." After getting brutally swapped to Racing Bulls, it looked sure that Lawson's future in Formula 1 was in jeopardy. He appeared on a similar track to Pierre Gasly, who got promoted to Red Bull from the sister team and ended up getting moved down shortly after. Gasly ended up staying within the Red Bull program with the junior team, but he eventually left for the French squad Alpine. With Lawson's run of success, he could net an opportunity outside of the Red Bull family like Gasly, or potentially stay and earn another chance now that the sporadic Christian Horner is out of Red Bull. Lawson needs to continue delivering, and he appears focused on capitalizing on the momentum. "To be honest, nothing huge has changed other than some small things in the car, and small things to me that have helped get me comfortable in the car," he added. "I think that's been really since Austria that I've felt that comfortable in the car, but the speed has always been there since the start of the season, since we did the switch. "We just had a lot of small things through that first part of the year and the consistency wasn't there, and now it is, but also it's very tough to keep that, so we need to try and focus on keeping that."
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Advisor on Max Verstappen's 2025 Championship Bid - 'Impossible'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull Racing senior advisor Helmut Marko has admitted that it is "impossible" for Max Verstappen to secure his fifth championship title this year. The four-time world champion is currently placed third in the Drivers' Standings with 187 points. The gap to the championship leader, Oscar Piastri, with 284 points, is 97 points. The 2025 season is being dominated by McLaren, as Red Bull continues to struggle with the RB21 F1 car. Verstappen's team enjoyed a dominant period in the current ground effect era that began in 2022. However, things changed drastically in the second half of the 2024 season, when balance problems on Red Bull's car hindered the team's title challenge. Related: Red Bull Shocked by F1 Performance Anomaly - 'We're Faster With Used Tires' Red Bull lost its position in the 2024 Constructors' Championship to McLaren and Ferrari, while Verstappen secured his fourth title, courtesy of the points he built up in the first half of the season. In the current campaign, Red Bull has been unable to solve car problems thus far, with both Verstappen and his teammate Yuki Tsunoda struggling considerably. Last weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix saw Verstappen start from eighth, but he ended up crossing the finish line in P9. Tsunoda, who started from the pit lane due to an engine penalty, finished in P17. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 02, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing looks on in the garage during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 02, 2025 in Budapest, Yuki Tsunoda Suffers Hungarian GP Setback With Pit Lane Start Penalty Marko, who believed until recently that Verstappen was in the championship mix, confirmed after Sunday's race at the Hungaroring that he is not in the race anymore. He told the media: "It's impossible, clearly." McLaren's Lando Norris won the Hungarian GP by opting for a one-stop strategy. Considering the difficulty in overtaking, Marko said that Red Bull should have opted for a similar strategy, as opposed to the two-stop strategy that backfired for Verstappen. The 82-year-old advisor said: "[Red Bull's performance was] inferior, but I think one stop would have been better, because overtaking was really difficult. "So maybe sixth or fifth [was possible], but the speed, which was funny, two or three laps, [Verstappen] was doing the same laps like the leaders, 1:19.5, but we believe we know what went wrong." "The first stops, the tyres were gone, and the second stop, we thought we could overtake. But as we saw for a couple of laps, yes, the speed was there, but then it was over." Related: Max Verstappen Laughs off FIA Investigation on Incident With Lewis Hamilton
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Max Verstappen Laughs off FIA Investigation on Incident With Lewis Hamilton
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen opened up on the incident with Lewis Hamilton during the Hungarian Grand Prix, which came under the scanner of the FIA stewards. Verstappen believed there was no need for an investigation since their cars did not make contact. Lap 29 of the race saw Verstappen get very close to Hamilton on Turn 4 as he attempted an overtake. Just as he began to pass the seven-time world champion, Hamilton went off the track before rejoining the race behind Verstappen. From the broadcast, it was unclear if Verstappen made contact with Hamilton that potentially pushed his Ferrari off the racetrack, or if Hamilton reacted to avoid a collision. The FIA began its investigation to ascertain if Verstappen pushed Hamilton off the track to gain an undue advantage, and the verdict was announced after the Grand Prix. The four-time world champion addressed the media before the FIA published its ruling. He said: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 31, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on July 31, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary."The thing is that nothing happened. We didn't even touch, that's the thing. So, for me, it's a bit difficult to understand why we have the investigation after the race. "We explained our side. Well, Lewis was not there, but we explained our side of the story. I don't think Lewis actually felt a lot for it, because if he really felt something for it, he's there in the stewards' room, right?" Hamilton started the race in P12 and finished in the same position, while Verstappen started in P8 but finished in P9. He added: "I think both of us didn't have the best of weekends anyway, so that's just that one little thing. What is the more important thing is that we have to look at our performance, which was not good." Elaborating on the incident, Verstappen said: "I went for a move at the inside because it's a fast corner, but with downforce you're a bit more under control anyway. I think he realised very late that I was up the inside there. So then he turned out of it a little bit, and then, of course, went off the track, and that was it. We didn't touch. Nothing happens." The Dutch driver believes there was no point in going to the stewards because neither car made contact. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing by the FIA. He said: "I think the problem is that we have so many rules, of course, it's always a complicated matter. It's not always super clear with things. "But it's always a bit weird that you have to go to the stewards for something that you didn't have even a contact or whatever." Related: FIA Delivers Verdict on Max Verstappen - Lewis Hamilton Hungarian GP Incident
