Yuki Tsunoda Shares How Max Verstappen Shift Boosted Red Bull’s Performance

Yuki Tsunoda says moving his setup toward Max Verstappen’s baseline has sharpened his performances since stepping up to Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix.

He used the August break for simulator work targeting race pace, after struggling to match Verstappen’s consistency over stints.

Early gains appeared at Spa with seventh in qualifying, then points at Zandvoort, before a season-best sixth in Baku.

Singapore brought regression on paper. After a reshuffled grid, he started 13th and finished 12th, yet reported improved confidence with the car.

Tsunoda says the shift was gradual and deliberate. He initially prioritised his own preferences, then layered in elements proven on Verstappen’s side.

The intent is not to copy settings wholesale, but to blend approaches that expand the operating window without compromising feel.

“Since day one, I focused on what I wanted, not chasing Max’s setup,” he said. “Now I combine both, and the quality improves.”

That mirrors Red Bull’s typical process. The leading car’s baseline becomes a reference, with others adopting compatible traits when correlation is clear.

For Tsunoda, the gains show mainly in tyre management and predictability over long runs, historically his deficit to Verstappen.

The context is unforgiving. Red Bull’s 2025 driver picture remains fluid, with Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson all pushing for seats.

Securing a longer-term role therefore depends on repeatable execution, not isolated headline results.

Verstappen leads the standings on 273 points. Tsunoda has added useful scores to Red Bull’s campaign, which currently sits fourth on 290 points.

The next phase is consolidating the setup direction through varied track types, ensuring simulator-to-track correlation stays robust across temperature and wind shifts.

If that happens, Tsunoda’s floor will rise, narrowing the delta to Verstappen without sacrificing his own strengths.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.