Lando Norris explains how Yuki Tsunoda is hurting Max Verstappen’s title bid at Red Bull

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Max Verstappen has forced his way back into the F1 title picture ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. But Lando Norris believes the team dynamic at Red Bull could be a disadvantage.

Verstappen has taken back-to-back victories in Italy and Azerbaijan, closing to within 69 points of Oscar Piastri and 44 of Norris.

The world champion is responsible for 255 of his team’s 272 points, a remarkable rate of 93.8%. Yuki Tsunoda has only beaten him once in the 33 competitive sessions where both have been classified.

By contrast, the two McLaren drivers are virtually evenly matched. Piastri leads the overall head-to-head 21-8.

Lando Norris says Yuki Tsunoda isn’t ‘pushing’ Max Verstappen

Speaking to Sky Sports in an interview that aired before Singapore Grand Prix qualifying, Norris refuted the suggestion that McLaren have had a dominant car this year.

Charles Leclerc says this year’s McLaren is as good as the 2023 Red Bull, and the Woking outfit are poised to seal the constructors’ title this weekend with six races to spare. But Norris says this reflects the level of their driver line-up.

No driver has scored more pole positions than Verstappen, and he’s only won one race fewer than Norris.

Theoretically, it helps the Dutchman that he doesn’t have to worry about his teammate taking points off him. But Tsunoda won’t ‘push him’ as Piastri does Norris.

“Max has never been that far away all season,” Norris explained. “We’ve been dominant as a team.

“Max has done well for his team. He’s got a lot of points for Red Bull. He just hasn’t had a teammate that can work with him and push him that little bit more, like me or Oscar have had.”

Red Bull have already made a decision about Yuki Tsunoda’s F1 future

Having replaced Liam Lawson at the top team after just two races, Tsunoda is seeking a contract extension. Red Bull may not expect him to challenge Verstappen, but they clearly need him to be better than 17th in the championship.

It’s been reported that Tsunoda is no longer in Red Bull contention for 2026, with Isack Hadjar in line to replace him. He remains in the Racing Bulls conversation, though.

Should those seats go to Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, Tsunoda may become Aston Martin’s reserve driver. That could prove to be his last chance of staying on the F1 grid.