Photo: Race Pictures

Tsunoda debunks former F1 boss' 'lazy' accusation

20:52, 23 Sep

Updated: 21:34, 23 Sep

byOlly Darcy

Yuki Tsunoda said that "putting in some extra work" before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix led him to be "the fastest he has been" at Red Bull.

Yuki Tsunoda secured his best result at Red Bull in Baku with a P6 finish | Photo: Race Pictures

I just started having this approach, and I am just going to keep doing what I'm doing.

- Yuki Tsunoda

The Japanese driver has struggled at the Austrian team since moving over from Racing Bulls just two races into the 2025 season, scoring just nine points in 15 races.

Those performances led to some harsh words from former team boss Franz Tost, saying the 25-year-old does not put the work in. However, a step forward from Tsunoda looks to have been made thanks to some extra work behind the scenes.

"I definitely unlocked something there, and it improved from FP2, too," Tsunoda explained after taking P6 in Baku, his highest since at Red Bull so far.

"I just started having this approach, and obviously, the quality is not at the level that Max is doing now. But step by step, I think it is the fastest I have been at a race week.

"It's definitely positive, and I think it shows some improvement for myself, that I have put in some effort over the weeks, putting in some extra work, some extra simulated work, whatever. I think that pays off a little bit, so I am just going to keep doing what I'm doing.

Tsunoda looking to bounce back

Tsunoda made a great impression at the end of the 2024 season at Racing Bulls, looking likely to have won the battle with Liam Lawson over the second seat at Red Bull for 2025.

However, the New Zealander was chosen to race at the Austrian team to start the season, and while Tsunoda impressed once again, Lawson struggled mightily.

That resulted in a switch between the two drivers after just the second Grand Prix of the season. But since that move, Tsunoda had only been able to finish as high as P9.

In Baku, after making it into Q3 for just the sixth time, a change in form seems apparent for the Japanese driver, turning his P6 in qualifying to a sixth place finish, giving him his best result of his Red Bull stint so far.

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