Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda has revealed the severe mental exhaustion he suffered during his brutal 2025 Red Bull Racing campaign alongside Max Verstappen.
The 26-year-old finished 17th in the drivers’ standings last season after inheriting the second seat mid-year. He became the latest casualty in Milton Keynes’ ruthless driver ecosystem, following Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Perez and Liam Lawson.
Intense telemetry comparisons and extreme psychological stress have repeatedly shattered promising talent at the squad.
Red Bull Driver Management Crisis
Speaking on a podcast, as quoted by Motorsport.com, the driver detailed the psychological toll of his promotion.
“Definitely, 2025 was the toughest year in my career, and I learned heaps of things,” Tsunoda said.
“I had so much up and down, and at some point I just recognised myself that I’m not really enjoying my life, I would say, like I’m not really enjoying the situation, not really enjoying driving Formula 1 probably as much as I was doing the first three years.”
The structural pressures eventually cost Tsunoda his drive, with Isack Hadjar promoted for the 2026 season. However, Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury handed the Japanese racer a reprieve at Racing Bulls.
Tsunoda feels he has returned a stronger competitor, despite a damaged Madrid outing earlier this month. As the senior team prepares to embed Hadjar full-time, management faces mounting scrutiny over its destructive driver cycle.
Red Bull will assess its driver roster ahead of the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
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