Guenther Steiner’s latest Yuki Tsunoda verdict is spot on as Red Bull future hangs in the balance

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The 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix could be the most important race of Yuki Tsunoda’s Formula 1 career.

Yuki Tsunoda’s promotion to Red Bull after just two race weekends this season hasn’t gone the way that he or the team would have liked.

The Japanese driver is on his best run of form since his Red Bull debut at his home race, scoring points in three of the last five Grand Prix.

However, that’s only been enough to lift Tsunoda to 16th in the drivers’ championship, while his teammate Max Verstappen has once again put himself in title contention.

Team principal Laurent Mekies is desperate to see Tsunoda improve, and even though he finished seventh at the most recent United States Grand Prix, he still finished the race 50 seconds behind his teammate.

Helmut Marko has said Tsunoda’s future will be decided after the next race in Mexico, with Isack Hadjar breathing down his neck to take his seat next year, and no guarantee that he’ll be placed back at Racing Bulls in 2026.

Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has been assessing the 25-year-old’s recent form and his position on the grid.

Unfortunately for Tsunoda, Steiner’s analysis of his current predicament is spot on.

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Guenther Steiner fails to see the positives in Yuki Tsunoda’s 2025 Red Bull career

Steiner was asked if he thought Red Bull could finish second in the constructors’ championship this season on The Red Flags Podcast, and he said: “Brake [suggesting he didn’t think it was possible], and you know why?

“Because they normally only have one driver who scores points.

“I don’t have anything against Yuki. I like the guy. It’s a very nice kid, I always speak with him.

“But the fact is, he doesn’t score a lot of points, and that’s why I said it, it’s not my fault!”

It was then put to Steiner that Tsunoda had two great starts at the United States Grand Prix, and he replied: “Yeah, but I also saw the last two qualifying [sessions]. If he had started in a better position, he wouldn’t have to make those starts.

“How many seconds was he behind Verstappen today? He was 50 seconds behind. How many points has he got? Yuki has 28 points; maybe he’ll get to 32 at the end of the season.”

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Yuki Tsunoda could cost Red Bull millions if he doesn’t improve before the end of the season

Although most fans only care about the drivers’ championship, for the teams, the constructors’ championship is arguably even more important.

Where a team finishes in the constructors’ championship decides not only their prize money, but also their wind tunnel allocation and typically staff bonuses too.

Red Bull staff were previously upset with Christian Horner for retaining Sergio Perez, because they believed that his underperformance could cost them personally at the end of the season.

Tsunoda could equally cost Red Bull staff their bonuses, as the team could finish anywhere between second and fourth this year.

Verstappen has outscored Tsunoda by 278 points so far this year, which is a staggering difference.

The next biggest gap between teammates is 163, with George Russell enjoying a significant advantage over rookie Mercedes teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

Unfortunately for Tsunoda, Steiner is right. His performances have been at a high enough level to justify another season with the team, and the risk of promoting Hadjar is very small considering the 25-year-old’s current output.