Yuki Tsunoda Faces Uphill Battle in Barcelona Heat
Barcelona, Spain — May 30, 2025
Under the scorching Spanish sun, Yuki Tsunoda endured a punishing Friday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, where track temperatures pushed toward 50 degrees Celsius and left drivers grappling with tire degradation and balance issues. For Tsunoda, the heat was only part of the challenge.
The Japanese driver, piloting an older-spec Red Bull RB21, reported persistent sliding and instability in both Free Practice sessions—balance concerns that underscored a wider performance gap between himself and the front-running cars.
In Free Practice 1, Tsunoda posted a respectable ninth-fastest time, clocking in just over six tenths behind Max Verstappen. Yet even that margin masked a more complex story. “The amount of sliding I have is not normal,” he told his engineer mid-session. The RB21, still awaiting critical updates delayed by a crash in Imola, looked visibly unsettled through the long, high-speed corners of Sector 2.
The afternoon brought little respite. Although track conditions slightly cooled, Tsunoda’s car continued to struggle for grip on both axles, an issue he repeatedly flagged on team radio. He finished 13th in FP2, again within six tenths of Verstappen but clearly lacking confidence. “My lap was good, but I’m still miles away,” Tsunoda said afterward. “It’s just very tough out there.”
That sentiment was echoed in the Red Bull camp. Helmut Marko acknowledged Tsunoda’s uphill fight, citing the team’s inability to roll out updated parts in time. “Because of the accident [in Imola], they couldn’t make the parts,” Marko explained. “It will be difficult [to reach Q3].” However, he confirmed that Tsunoda is expected to receive the full upgrade package by the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.
Despite the setback, Tsunoda’s demeanor remained composed. “We’ll try our best to find a solution,” he said, anticipating a long night with his engineers. “It’s not easy, but we’ll keep pushing.”
Team principal Christian Horner struck a more optimistic tone, praising Tsunoda’s raw speed while emphasizing the need for consistency. “He’s fast—we just need him to piece it all together,” Horner said in Friday’s press conference. “What we can do is give him time and support, and try to give him a setup he can gain confidence in.”
For now, the message from Red Bull is one of patience. With the full weight of the organization behind him and crucial upgrades on the horizon, Tsunoda’s immediate task is clear: extract the most from an imperfect package while keeping his race clean and collect milleage. In a field separated by tenths, every lap of data counts.
