Yuki Tsunoda Handed Last-Minute Upgrade by Red Bull's New Team Principal
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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Lewis Hamilton has ‘absolute confidence' in Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur
Lewis Hamilton said he has 'absolute confidence' in Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur after it was announced the Frenchman had signed a new multi-year deal. Vasseur's position has been under scrutiny this season, with Ferrari yet to land a single win outside of Hamilton's sprint victory in China in March. Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has even been linked with the job since he was ousted earlier this month. Since his transfer from Mercedes, Hamilton has not landed a grand prix podium in Ferrari colours – a streak of 13 races – the deepest into the season he has ever gone without a top-three finish. However, speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix, the 40-year-old said: 'I am always positive about Fred, and I have told everyone that. I told you before it was the right choice. 'Fred signed me here. He is completely different to (Mercedes team principal) Toto (Wolff) but in terms of characters they are both massive racers. 'The real positive when I worked with Toto was how he was able to utilise individuals and figure out how people work best and how to get the most out of someone. 'For me, he created me with freedom to be able to express myself the way I wanted to and that enabled me to be the best version of myself. 'Fred is similar in that respect. I am still trying to learn the way he works. But I have absolute confidence in Fred, as I have always said.' Hamilton is sixth in the standings, 157 points off the championship pace and 30 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. Ferrari are second in the constructors' standings. Hamilton said at last week's round in Belgium that he had staged meetings with all of Ferrari's key figures – including chairman John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna and Vasseur – and submitted two documents outlining his vision as to why the Italian giants are not up to speed. Ferrari's last world drivers' title came in 2007, with their most recent constructors' crown the following year. In a statement released ahead of the concluding round before the summer break, Ferrari said: 'Scuderia Ferrari HP is pleased to announce that it has extended, with a multiple-year contract, its agreement with Fred Vasseur, who will continue as team principal for the coming Formula One seasons. 'Fred joined the Scuderia at the beginning of 2023, bringing with him extensive motorsport experience and a proven ability to develop talent and build competitive teams across all levels of racing. Since then, he has laid a solid foundation with the ambition of returning Ferrari to the top of Formula One. 'Renewing Fred's contract reflects Ferrari's determination to build on the foundations laid so far. His ability to lead under pressure, embrace innovation, and pursue performance aligns fully with Ferrari's values and long-term ambitions. 'Under Fred's leadership, Scuderia Ferrari HP is united, focused, and committed to continuous improvement. The trust placed in him reflects the team's confidence in its strategic direction and reinforces a shared determination to deliver the results that Ferrari's fans, drivers, and team members expect and deserve.' Frenchman Vassuer, 57, continued: 'I'm grateful for the trust Ferrari continues to place in me. This renewal is not just a confirmation — it's a challenge to keep progressing, to stay focused, and to deliver. 'Over the past 30 months, we've laid strong foundations, and now we must build on them with consistency and determination. We know what's expected, and we're all fully committed to meeting those expectations and taking the next step forward together.'
The Drive
an hour ago
- The Drive
Max Verstappen Is Staying With Red Bull for 2026, 'Stop All The Rumors'
The latest car news, reviews, and features. The Champ isn't leaving Red Bull. On Thursday, just before the upcoming race in Budapest that leads into a three-week summer break, Max Verstappen told the media, 'I think it's time to basically stop all the rumors, and for me it's always been quite clear that I was staying anyways.' The 27-year-old four-time and reigning World Champion seemed frustrated at all the speculation of his departure, possibly to Mercedes. 'Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but for me it's always been quite clear and also for next year,' Verstappen said. The frustration with the rumor mill didn't stop there. Verstappen noted that people are 'waffling' so much during the season when the only person that can or should speak isn't speaking, which is him. He noted that's on purpose because it makes no sense to start throwing things around, and 'that should be the same for everyone.' Verstappen noted that someone can have a personal relationship with someone (referring to Mercedes' Toto) even if you don't have a working relationship. The World Champion noted he's already discussing plans and things they want to change for the RBR race car next year. 'If my boat is next to Toto's then the boat is next to Toto's,' Verstappen said. Verstappen's confirmation of the 2026 season comes after Red Bull Racing fired team principal Christian Horner earlier in the month. And hours after Ferrari confirmed it had renewed a contract with team principal Fred Vasseur. Got a tip? Email us at tips@
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Max Verstappen confirms he will stay at Red Bull next season, ending speculation over near future
Max Verstappen has confirmed he will remain with Red Bull for the 2026 Formula One season, ending speculation over his future with the team for the time being. Where the Dutch driver would be plying his craft next season has been the subject of much speculation for months, with Verstappen being heavily linked with Mercedes despite having a contract with Red Bull until 2028. But the four-time reigning world champion ended the talk over his short-term future, confirming that he'll remain with Red Bull next year while speaking ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. 'Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama. But, for me, it's always been quite clear, and also for next year,' Verstappen told reporters on Thursday, per the Associated Press. 'I'm discussing with the team already the plans – the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I'm also staying with the team for next year.' This season has been one of big change at Red Bull already, with long-time team principal Christian Horner being fired earlier this month after 20 successful years with the team. Despite speculation Verstappen might leave, Horner had remained steadfast in his belief that the 27-year-old would stay with the team. Horner's assertions did little to stop the rumor mill though, with questions over Verstappen's future not dissipating amid reported interested from Mercedes. Those rumors were fueled when the yachts of Verstappen and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff were spotted near one another in Sardinia, although the Dutchman was quick to shoot down speculation. 'If my boat is next to Toto's, then the boat is next to Toto's,' Verstappen said on Thursday. 'You can have a personal relationship with someone even if you don't have a working relationship with someone.' But he has now put an end to any possible move, confirming his place with Red Bull in 2026. On the track, it's been an underwhelming F1 season for both the driver and Red Bull. Verstappen currently sits third in the drivers' championship standings, 81 points behind leader Oscar Piastri of McLaren, while Red Bull sits in fourth place in the constructor's standings behind McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
