Yuki Tsunoda must fix ‘miserable’ Red Bull problem as worst stat on the 2025 F1 grid emerges

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Yuki Tsunoda is fighting for his Formula 1 career, let alone his seat at Red Bull, and he has a huge mountain to climb to keep himself on the grid.

Since replacing Liam Lawson at Red Bull just two races into 2025, Tsunoda has scored 17 points. Like his predecessors, he has struggled to find performance in the second seat.

The arrival of Laurent Mekies as team principal has brought some improvements, with the 25-year-old grabbing his best result of P6 in Baku. However, he faces increasing pressure to keep his seat, with Isack Hadjar being the favourite to replace Tsunoda.

Tsunoda has pleaded for fans to support him as he fights to keep his F1 career alive. But inconsistent results will not help his case, with the Singapore Grand Prix being a prime example.

The Japanese driver qualified P15, but was promoted to 13th after Williams were disqualified for a rear wing infringement. Red Bull were ‘very pleased’ with Tsunoda’s pace despite finishing 12th, as he managed to climb up the field after a ‘terrible’ start.

Yuki Tsunoda must fix ‘miserable’ problem with starts as he loses the most positions on the first lap in 2025

Tsunoda dropped to 17th by the end of the first lap after he was cut off continuously in traffic and forced to slow to avoid other cars. His pace later in the race suggested that points could have been possible had it not been for a dismal opening lap.

Concerningly, the Singapore GP was not a one-off for the Red Bull. As per a report from The Athletic, Tsunoda has lost the most positions on the opening lap per race.

Excluding the British GP, as many drivers went into the pit lane on the opening lap to change tyres in the wet conditions, on average, Tsunoda has lost 0.7 positions on the first lap per race. Quite simply, this is not good enough for a Red Bull driver.

The Milton Keynes outfit are fighting for second in the constructors’ championship, having leaped forward in development under Mekies. Max Verstappen is collecting race wins and regular podiums, but Tsunoda is still far behind.

His pace in Singapore suggests that he is more comfortable in the RB21 and can start challenging further up the field. But his poor starts are leaving points on the table, and he has to improve this trait if he wants any chance of staying on the grid.

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What are Yuki Tsunoda’s chances of staying at Red Bull after the Singapore Grand Prix?

After a disappointing weekend in Singapore, the Japanese driver has six races to save his career. However, Sam Bird thinks it is a ‘matter of time’ before Red Bull drop Tsunoda as he faces a bleak reality.

With Hadjar set to replace him, a return to Racing Bulls could be possible. However, Simon Lazenby has heard rumours that Racing Bulls could snub both Tsunoda and Lawson, amid interest in Arvid Lindblad and recently-axed McLaren junior Alex Dunne.

A strong performance in the final six races could swing the decision in the 25-year-old’s favour. But after a tough weekend in Singapore, reports suggest that Tsunoda’s chances of staying on the grid in 2025 are ‘closed’.

Tsunoda’s ‘best chance’ is at Aston Martin as a reserve driver, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll contracted until 2026. The team will be supplied by Honda engines next season, who are also the Red Bull driver’s main backers; they are pushing to keep him on the grid.