Yuki Tsunoda in Baku - Photo: Race Pictures

Mekies sees Baku breakthrough for Tsunoda as Red Bull decisions loom

14:52, 27 Sep

Updated: 15:03, 27 Sep

byOlly Darcy

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies believes that Yuki Tsunoda is rediscovering his form, with his P6 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix "his best race with Red Bull".

"It was really the one thing that was the most important for us to get that. I'm very happy for him."

- Laurent Mekies on Yuki Tsunoda's improved race pace

Since making the move to Red Bull after two Grands Prix in 2025, the Japanese driver had only been able to score nine points from 15 races at the Austrian team.

However, around the Baku City Circuit, the pace was much-improved from the 25-year-old, finishing ahead of Lando Norris to take P6, his best finish since making the move from Racing Bulls.

"I think it's his best race with us this year," the Frenchman stated after Tsunoda's P6.

Yuki Tsunoda found his form amid his best result in Baku - Photo: Race Pictures

"I think he was strong yesterday in qualifying. He was very strong in the race. The clever guys will get the number right, but he was sometimes two, sometimes three, sometimes four-tenths away from Max, and Max was pulling away from everyone with that pace, so it was a very, very serious pace.

"We thought he would have to defend very hard against McLaren and Ferrari to help with Max chasing the win, and he didn't have to defend. He was actually there on merit, and Lando stayed behind him and didn't put much pressure on him.

"So, it's his best, not only result, but also race pace with us. And you're right, it was really the one thing that was the most important for us to get that. I'm very happy for him."

Decisions to be made at Red Bull

The improvement in form has come from Tsunoda's work behind the scenes, something that former boss Franz Tost said the Japanese driver did not have, resulting in his Red Bull struggles.

That is something that Mekies quickly dismissed: "He's working very hard. He has never backed off from working hard. We discussed this here now, and after the tough time in Budapest, he came straight to the simulator.

"Instead of going on holiday, he just said, ‘No, no, I go back to the simulator with the team and work the next day.’ That's the approach he has every weekend when he's done racing, he's working somewhere with his engineers or on his driving, and I'm very happy to find that it shows progress.

There will be plenty of decsions made at Red Bull over the next few months, with the second seat beside Max Verstappen the discussion once again.

The decision is expected to be made by the Mexican Grand Prix, as top advisor Helmut Marko indicated before.

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