The Singapore Grand Prix must be the final nail in the coffin for ‘shocking’ driver’s Formula 1 career

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The Singapore Grand Prix is notorious for being one of the toughest races physically for Formula 1 drivers.

There were mixed reactions in the Formula 1 paddock when the Singapore Grand Prix was declared the first ‘heat hazard’ race of the year, meaning drivers either had to use a cooling vest or add extra ballast to their car.

George Russell impressed Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the F1 paddock with a faultless display across qualifying and the race itself.

Fernando Alonso was upset with Hamilton at the end of the race, but managed to win Driver of the Day, using all the experience he’s accumulated over the past 20 years to finish seventh.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris joined Russell on the podium, with Oscar Piastri left upset by his teammate’s first lap overtake that nearly forced him into the barrier.

There are a few drivers arguably under even more pressure to perform with their Formula 1 careers on the line.

Unfortunately, for Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, it was another weekend to forget and potentially the result that will end his Formula 1 career.

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Why the Singapore Grand Prix might be the end of Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 career

Tsunoda failed to start in the top 10 for the 10th time since being promoted to Red Bull 16 races ago on Sunday, highlighting his struggles over one lap.

A P6 finish in Azerbaijan was his best result since his promotion, but he was still overshadowed by Liam Lawson that weekend, and he was beaten by Isack Hadjar in Singapore despite the Frenchman suffering with engine issues throughout the race.

The moment Verstappen lapped Tsunoda during the race would have highlighted to Red Bull that continuing with the Japanese driver is going to be difficult to justify.

Commentating on the race for BBC Sport, Sam Bird said: “It’s not good enough from Yuki Tsunoda and that side of the garage at Red Bull to be lapped in a car where your team-mate is fighting and is in second place.”

Hadjar is the frontrunner to be Max Verstappen’s teammate next year, meaning Tsunoda, Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are fighting it out to race for Racing Bulls in 2026.

If Red Bull have one eye on the future, then Tsunoda might be the man to make way, as after more than 100 Grand Prix starts, he’s unlikely to improve any further.

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Laurent Mekies calls Yuki Tsunoda’s Singapore Grand Prix first lap ‘shocking’

Tsunoda has been given more support at Red Bull by new team principal Laurent Mekies than by his predecessor, Christian Horner.

However, speaking to the press, via Motorsport, after Sunday’s race, Mekies couldn’t defend his second driver and said: “Today, the first lap was certainly shocking, but from that point onward I think he has done a very decent race, I think he came back from P18 to P12 or P11, with a very decent pace.

“So we had a very poor Saturday, it’s costing us the weekend and a few points, and we’ll work with him to improve together.”

Tsunoda himself was very upset with how the race panned out and explained: “I just didn’t have any space to go. I lost so many position in the first lap. It was definitely the worst start ever.

“I don’t know what I should have done there. I’m sure there’s something I could have done better. That for sure made my life very hard afterwards.

“To be honest, the pace was one of the best I’ve had in my Red Bull career so far. It’s a shame what I had there.”

The upcoming regulation changes feel like the perfect time for Red Bull to try and reset.

For that reason, Tsunoda needs to be moved on, and Hadjar allowed to adapt to a new role alongside Verstappen, while it’s hard to justify keeping the 25-year-old at Racing Bulls when Lawson and Lindblad can be given some precious experience in the sister team.