Yuki Tsunoda has revealed the significant mental exhaustion he experienced during his 2025 Formula 1 season with Red Bull Racing. The Japanese driver admitted that the year was the toughest of his career, following his promotion to the senior team just two races into the season. Tsunoda replaced Liam Lawson at Red Bull for the final 22 races of 2025.
During his stint alongside Max Verstappen, Tsunoda struggled considerably, finishing 17th in the drivers’ standings. He was notably outscored 22-0 by Verstappen during this period. The intense pressure and performance gap contributed to a difficult mental state for the driver.
Tsunoda spoke on a podcast this week, admitting he realised ‘I’m not really enjoying my life’ as the 2025 season progressed. He found it difficult to mentally reset between race weekends, a process he typically managed with ease. This period of mental strain ultimately cost him his seat at Red Bull at the end of 2025.
His struggles highlight the demanding environment within Red Bull’s driver programme, where promising talent has previously faced significant psychological stress. Tsunoda had previously spoken in March 2025 about seeking help from a psychologist to manage ‘unstable times’ and moments of feeling ’emotionally down’.
For the current 2026 season, Tsunoda initially moved into a reserve role. However, he has recently returned to the grid as a Visa Cash App Racing Bulls driver, stepping in for an injured Liam Lawson. He is currently contracted with Visa Cash App Racing Bulls through 2026.
In other Formula 1 news, Max Verstappen secured a victory in the ‘Max vs 100’ kart race at Silverstone on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The four-time Formula 1 world champion started 101st and successfully overtook 100 karters in just 14 laps, completing the challenge in 35 minutes. He passed 64 rivals on the opening lap of the event, which was organised by Red Bull.
The FIA is also set to review its Virtual Safety Car (VSC) regulations following an incident involving Lando Norris at the Spanish Grand Prix. Norris was leading the race at the Madring circuit when a VSC was deployed, but he had just passed the pit lane entry. Rivals behind him were able to pit under VSC conditions, gaining a strategic advantage.
The VSC period concluded before Norris could complete his lap and enter the pits, forcing him to make his stop under green flag conditions and dropping him to third place. Drivers and pundits, including Martin Brundle, have suggested changes such as ensuring the VSC remains active for at least one full lap to ensure fairness for all competitors.
Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg has issued a warning to Kimi Antonelli regarding the mental pressures of a Formula 1 title fight. Antonelli currently holds an 81-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell in the 2026 championship standings, with nine Grands Prix remaining. Max Verstappen has also tipped Antonelli for the title.
Rosberg, the 2016 world champion, drew on his own experiences, advising Antonelli to ‘switch everything off’ and maintain focus to navigate the psychological challenges of a championship battle. He emphasized the importance of mental fortitude as the season progresses.
Speculation surrounding Max Verstappen’s future continues after he was seen on holiday with Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff in Sardinia in July 2026. This marks the second consecutive year the two have been spotted together during the summer break. Verstappen holds a Red Bull contract until 2028 but has not committed to the team beyond the 2027 season.
Wolff has publicly stated he would welcome Verstappen as a teammate to Antonelli at Mercedes, despite the team being expected to retain Russell and Antonelli for 2027. The sightings fuel ongoing paddock discussions regarding potential driver market movements for upcoming seasons.
Red Bull Racing has acknowledged a persistent performance issue with their RB22 car, a problem highlighted by Max Verstappen. Technical director Laurent Mekies confirmed Verstappen’s assessment of ‘car degradation,’ where the RB22 loses performance over the course of sessions and races. Mekies described it as a ‘complex issue’ that is costing the team ‘serious lap time’ and could potentially extend into the 2027 season.
