tsunoda, Red Bull, Verstappen, Laurent Mekies, Future

Yuki Tsunoda and Max Verstappen

Albon sees himself in Tsunoda’s struggles: ‘I was in the same predicament’

12:19, 30 Sep

Updated: 14:13, 30 Sep

byOlly Darcy

Alex Albon says that he "understands" and "empathises" with Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull amid a challenging 2025 season.

"I see it now, and I understand the same feelings. I speak with Yuki a lot."

- Alex Albon on Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull

The Japanese driver had only scored nine points in 14 races since joining the Austrian team from Racing Bulls, struggling to deal with the RB21.

Albon, a former Red Bull driver himself, had similar struggles to Tsunoda back in 2020, with a disappointing season resulting in him being demoted to the test and reserve role at Red Bull for the 2021 season.

"I empathise with it. I see it quite clearly," the Thai-British driver said on the BBC's F1: Chequered Flag podcast.

Alex Albon sits P8 in the drivers' standings with 70 points Photo: RacePictures.

"I think it is split in many ways. The time that I was at Red Bull, as you said, I joined six months into my F1 career, and I had just realised, in hindsight, I was in a predicament when I joined the team at Red Bull because I had a car that I was not comfortable with.

"I didn't have the experience to get myself out of it. I struggled with it, my experience level, and my maturity as a human being, to understand how to get out of that situation.

"I see it now, and I understand the same feelings. I speak with Yuki a lot, and I try to help him in any way I can. We have a great relationship, and I love Yuki."

Verstappen 'the best driver ever in F1'

After having that reserve role in 2021, Albon then made the move to Williams in 2022, rediscovering his form and improving each season, highlighted by his 70 points scored in 2025, which sees him sit P8 in the drivers' standings.

But the 29-year-old understands what it is like for Tsunoda to have struggles with a car whilst driving alonside Max Verstappen.

"It's hard. I think you have, on the other side of the garage, arguably, the best driver that has ever driven a Formula 1 car," continued Albon.

"That's a big statement, I know, but I truly believe that. He can drive a car that is not comfortable to drive. He can hide a lot of problems, and he is the one who can clearly drive it."

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