Nico Rosberg privately ‘hearing’ why Yuki Tsunoda is so much slower than Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen

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Red Bull Racing driver Yuki Tsunoda would have been pleased to reach Q3 at the Italian Grand Prix after a difficult spell since his promotion from Racing Bulls.

Yuki Tsunoda finally returned to the points at the Dutch Grand Prix, coming home in ninth at Zandvoort.

However, his performance was overshadowed by Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen finishing second at his home race and Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar joining him on the podium.

Hadjar is being touted as Tsunoda’s replacement at Red Bull for the 2026 Formula 1 season.

It’s yet to be seen whether that decision has been made behind the scenes, although it’s expected that team principal Laurent Mekies will have a confirmed line-up for next year by the Mexico City Grand Prix.

Throughout the Italian Grand Prix weekend, Tsunoda has looked closer than ever to Verstappen.

However, Verstappen then set the fastest lap in Formula 1 history to take pole position, with a time in Q3 that was seven-tenths faster than the Japanese driver.

Nico Rosberg has shared what he’s heard behind the scenes at Red Bull that might explain why Tsunoda is further off Verstappen than many would expect.

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Nico Rosberg ‘hearing’ Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull isn’t identical to Max Verstappen’s at the Italian Grand Prix

Rosberg was speaking on Sky Sports F1 (6/9 4:27 pm) after qualifying, with Verstappen preparing to start ahead of both McLaren drivers, while Tsunoda will line up alongside Lewis Hamilton on the fifth row.

The 2016 world champion explained: “This has been years now, and once again, Yuki today is more than seven-tenths behind Max Verstappen. That’s inexplicable.

“I don’t understand it. Yuki is great, he knows how to drive a racing car. How is it possible he’s just so far behind, once again?

“It’s crazy that they can’t find a solution to that? I mean, again, I’m hearing that his car is not 100% the same as Max Verstappen’s, but he’s not seven-tenths [slower], maybe it’s a tenth or something.

“Yeah, I feel for Yuki because this is, again, a really, really tough day.”

Jamie Chadwick added: “I think he did have an issue at the beginning of that session as well.

“I feel like, of all the tracks, this is the closest he’s been, but again, he’d get to Q3 and the gap just suddenly becomes massive again.”

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Yuki Tsunoda frustrated by going out first during qualifying at the Italian Grand Prix

Every driver was hoping to get a slipstream down the main straight in qualifying, with the margins so small between each team.

Reflecting on setting the slowest time in Q3, Tsunoda explained: “Reaching Q3 was exactly what I wanted to achieve today, and I am happy to see the progress that we are making race by race, which resulted in winning points at Zandvoort last weekend.

“It was a shame that I was first to take to the track in Q3 and had to lead the pack, as traditionally Monza is a track that needs slipstream.

“I feel like I demonstrated consistency in Q3 and was only a tenth behind Max, which is positive.

“Since the upgrade brought to Spa, we have been making progress, but the balance definitely still feels a bit messy.”

The 25-year-old needs to convert starting P9 into a decent points finish to convince Red Bull to continue with him beyond 2025.

If he’s not got the same specifications as Verstappen, then that puts him at an immediate disadvantage.

However, as Rosberg pointed out, the gap is still far larger than he would expect, and that’s what Tsunoda has to rectify; otherwise, Red Bull will likely take another gamble on a youngster next year and promote Hadjar.