Latest news with #Tsunoda
Newsweek
12 minutes ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
F1 Insider Sees Mekies Changing Red Bull's Max Verstappen-Only Culture
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. Former Mercedes Formula One driver and Sky Sports F1 presenter Nico Rosberg has revealed that Laurent Mekies' Red Bull appointment to replace Christian Horner has uplifted Yuki Tsunoda's form, in a team that was "for Max Verstappen" and which "only cared about Max Verstappen." Horner, who served as the team's CEO and team principal for 20 years, was ousted with immediate effect after the British Grand Prix. Mekies was deemed the most suitable successor to Horner, given his impressive track record with Red Bull's junior F1 team, Racing Bulls. Rosberg was present at Spa-Francorchamps for last weekend's Belgian GP, where he noticed a motivated Tsunoda, given the presence of Mekies, with whom he shares a good rapport. Several reports suggested that Verstappen was given more preference over his teammates under Horner's leadership. Tsunoda is currently Verstappen's third teammate in the last 12 months. Sergio Perez faced significant challenges in 2024 with the RB20 F1 car, which eventually led to his ousting after the season finale. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps... Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. MorePerez's replacement, Liam Lawson, also faced similar challenges, resulting in his demotion to Racing Bulls after the first two races of the 2025 season. Tsunoda earned his Red Bull promotion at his home race in Suzuka, replacing Lawson. However, he too faced difficulties with his new team's F1 car. Red Bull reportedly designed its car around Verstappen, which caused his teammates to struggle. Rosberg pointed out that Tsunoda looked more motivated with Mekies last weekend. Notably, the Japanese driver qualified P7 for Sunday's race at Spa, his best qualifying result with Red Bull thus far. This was after Mekies decided to use the upgraded floor on Tsunoda's RB20, which was kept as a spare for Verstappen. Revealing that Tsunoda is receiving the attention he needs from a team principal since Mekies took over Red Bull, Rosberg said on Sky F1: "He has now really empowered Yuki Tsunoda this weekend. He has given him the new upgrade, that he can have the new floor himself as well, not just Verstappen. "He gives him a thumbs up and a smile after sessions. After qualifying, they connected as Yuki was driving in. He saw Laurent on the pit wall, giving him a big smile and a thumbs-up. "That makes a huge difference to a driver when suddenly, he sees that he has the support from the team. Whereas before, he said, I heard that he felt like he was on a bit of an island on his own, in a team that was for Max Verstappen and they only cared about Max Verstappen. "Now, Laurent straight away is also caring about Yuki." Could this be the start of a new era at Red Bull under Mekies? Related: Yuki Tsunoda Handed Last-Minute Upgrade by Red Bull's New Team Principal
Newsweek
a day ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Red Bull Apologizes to Yuki Tsunoda over Belgian GP Blunder
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 team principal Laurent Mekies apologized to Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda after the team made a mistake in strategy. Tsunoda started in seventh position, one of his best starts while at the senior Red Bull team. He looked poised to capture a massive points haul, but he ended up finishing outside of the top 10. During the first half of the race, when all the cars had intermediate tires, Tsunoda maintained a points-scoring position. As the track dried up, some of the cars started pitting for slick tires. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in... Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in Spa, Belgium. More Photo byRed Bull called Tsunoda in too late and forced him to complete another lap on worn-out intermediate tires while everyone else had slick tires and were completing outlaps at much faster times. Mekies accepted responsibility for Tsunoda's failing to capitalize on his impressive qualifying position. "We called him too late today and that's cost him position[s]," Mekies told Formula 1. "So sorry to him for that, because he was doing a good race until [then]. The crew was ready, we simply called him too late so we'll certainly do better next time there." "He did a very strong qualifying yesterday. We upgraded the car just before qualifying, but it's so difficult to adapt [...] with new conditions in a qualifying session like that. He did a very, very strong job, so I'm very happy for him. "Today he had the right pace as well and he was certainly up for some good points, but that's how it went. "So we take the good step forward this weekend and hopefully we carry on in Budapest." While there may be lingering disappointment, Tsunoda should take solace in his impressive performance in qualifying and during the race. He should be motivated to repeat his results, especially since he looks closer to his teammate Max Verstappen than ever. If he keeps performing at this level, the Japanese driver might keep his seat or at the very least, attract another team. Belgium Grand Prix Results Oscar Piastri (McLaren) Lando Norris (McLaren) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) George Russell (Mercedes) Alex Albon (Williams) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) Pierre Gasly (Alpine) Ollie Bearman (Haas) Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) Esteban Ocon (Haas) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) Carlos Sainz (Williams) Franco Colapinto (Alpine) Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) For more F1 news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Yuki Tsunoda Handed Last-Minute Upgrade by Red Bull's New Team Principal
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 Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda received a last-minute upgrade on his RB21 F1 car ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix qualifying session at Spa-Francorchamps. New Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies took the call to boost Tsunoda's performance and confidence, which became evident with his Q3 result. Tsunoda secured his best qualifying finish since his Red Bull promotion in March, securing a P7 start for the Grand Prix on Sunday. Mekies, who replaced Christian Horner after the last race at Silverstone, noticed that Tsunoda was still running the old floor, while his teammate Max Verstappen was running the latest upgrade on the RB21. Due to the limited number of upgraded floors available with Red Bull, they were kept as a reserve for Verstappen, in case his car suffered floor damage. However, Mekies chose to run the spare on Tsunoda's car, offering him a much-needed performance gain. Although Tsunoda's RB21 won't have the upgraded front wing as Verstappen's, the new floor has made a significant difference in qualifying. Speaking to F1 TV, Mekies said: "For Yuki, it was a very, very good step forward through the weekend, so it's good to see him in Q3. Finishing there, I'm sure will give him a good boost in confidence. We upgraded his car just before qualifying as we are always pushing to the edge on our car parts quantity, but we decided to take the risk to upgrade his car. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing is greeted by Visa Cash App RB Team Principal Laurent Mekies in the paddock during practice/Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at... Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing is greeted by Visa Cash App RB Team Principal Laurent Mekies in the paddock during practice/Sprint qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 2, 2025 in Miami, United States. More"That's why you may have seen we were nearly a bit late to go out in qualifying, but it was worth the effort from everyone. And certainly it helped in supporting his performance to get to a very, very good level." Tsunoda worked closely with Mekies at Racing Bulls before he was moved to Red Bull. Expressing his satisfaction at the upgrade, which now gives him the confidence to push his car further, the Japanese driver said: "Considering the difference I've always had in terms of laptime delta, between Max and myself, that's huge. "So I knew in myself and my engineering group, that we are in the right direction, myself to improve in the way we want happy that I approve it. "But yeah, generally, a bit more grip. The previous one was more sensitive, easier to slide. With this one, you can be aggressive, I would say." Tsunoda admitted that seeing Mekies in the Red Bull garage elevated his confidence level. He said: "Seeing Laurent at the end of Qualifying gave me flashbacks from when we worked together at Racing Bulls. "He smiled directly at me as soon as I pulled in today and it really boosted my confidence."
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Yuki Tsunoda Reveals Surprise Text from Christian Horner Ahead of Belgian GP
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda has opened up on a message he received from the team's ousted CEO and team principal, Christian Horner. The message arrives amid Tsunoda's ongoing struggles with Red Bull's RB21 F1 car. The Japanese driver was promoted from the Red Bull junior F1 team Racing Bulls after the Chinese Grand Prix. Swapping seats with Liam Lawson, Tsunoda was placed alongside Max Verstappen to enhance the team's performance. However, with the RB21 reportedly suited to the four-time world champion, Tsunoda has been facing similar battles as his predecessors. The 2024 season saw Sergio Perez face similar challenges with the RB20, which was affected by balance problems, ultimately resulting in Red Bull losing out on the constructors' championship. The underwhelming performance eventually led to Perez's exit from the team. Red Bull parted ways with Horner after the British Grand Prix for reasons not yet known. He was replaced by Racing Bulls' former team principal, Laurent Mekies. Racing Bulls sporting director Alan Permane was promoted to team principal to replace Mekies. Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit... Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Christian Horner, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 18, 2025 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. MoreTsunoda opened up about a motivational message from Horner ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. He said: "Yeah, I think not much to say. I appreciate how Christian supported me in previous races. And, yeah, I mean, also, I got a message from him actually yesterday that, you know, show what you can do and, you know, yeah, it was a nice message." Speaking on working with Mekies again, he added: "And with Laurent, yeah, I know him since VCARB and we've worked really well. We had a good start of the year in terms of performance. And, you know, we had a lot of trust between us. So, yeah, looking forward to work with him. And, yeah, Alan, I just met him and congrats as well. Messaged as well. But he's definitely motivated. And, yeah, I think, yeah, I'm excited to see how he's going to do as team principal." Addressing the RB21, Tsunoda explained that he had never seen any other driver adapt to the car quickly, but he remains confident about getting used to it. 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
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Yuki Tsunoda Reveals Harsh Truth About Red Bull's RB21 F1 Car
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Red Bull Racing Formula One driver Yuki Tsunoda has revealed that it is taking longer for him to adapt to the RB21 F1 car than the VCARB 02 he drove at Racing Bulls previously. With the car reportedly designed around Max Verstappen, Tsunoda admitted that he hasn't seen any driver adapt to it quickly. Tsunoda was promoted to Red Bull after the Chinese Grand Prix in March, swapping places with Liam Lawson, who was demoted to Red Bull's junior F1 team, Racing Bulls. Lawson struggled significantly with the RB21, leading Red Bull to take drastic action after the first two races of the 2025 season. The 2024 season saw Sergio Perez face similar challenges with the RB20, given the balance problems that led to Red Bull losing the Constructors' Championship. Fortunately for Verstappen, the struggles were minimal, and his racing prowess led him to secure his fourth championship. Despite the challenge, the Japanese driver is optimistic that he will adapt to the RB21, even if it means taking up the remainder of the season. He said: Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Richard Wood, Race Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at... Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with Richard Wood, Race Engineer of Oracle Red Bull Racing in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Canada at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 14, 2025 in Montreal, Quebec. More"I mean, I don't know. It depends on the driver, but also at the same time, 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." Comparing the RB21 to the car he used to drive at Racing Bulls (then VCARB), Tsunoda said: "Is it true that in terms of confidence, when the condition changes every session, maybe I'm taking a little bit more time compared to where I used to have at VCARB where for example, I knew exactly how the car was going to drive in each set-up, I can go flat out from the first push. "But maybe in the Red Bull, I had to build up, which for me is the right approach. I don't think it's a wrong approach, but just takes a bit of time. I don't know if it's going to take a whole season or not, but at least it's positive that I'm going in the right direction."
