Yuki Tsunoda’s unheard ‘bleak’ radio reaction to finding out Max Verstappen finished third in Brazil

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Red Bull Racing fans and staff were amazed by Max Verstappen’s unbelievable comeback at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and so was his teammate, Yuki Tsunoda.

Yuki Tsunoda is under more pressure than arguably any other driver on the grid right now.

Red Bull have yet to decide who will partner Max Verstappen next season, with Isack Hadjar seen as the frontrunner to be promoted alongside him.

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix was one of Tsunoda’s final opportunities to impress the team and highlight why he deserves his place on the grid in 2026.

Tsunoda failed to advance beyond Q1 in either qualifying session, before finishing last in Sunday’s race.

Red Bull put their faith in Tsunoda to help with Verstappen’s car set-up, but were forced to start the Dutchman from the pit lane, potentially putting another nail in his coffin ahead of deciding what to do with him next season.

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda’s life outside F1 from height to parents

Yuki Tsunoda went silent after hearing Max Verstappen’s result at the Brazilian Grand Prix

Journalist Matt Majendie was speaking on The Inside Track Podcast about Tsunoda after another difficult race.

He explained: “There was an awful bit on the race radio afterwards where he just goes, oh, where did Max finish?

“And then he just hears P3, and then there’s just silence, and that was just really bleak. I really felt for him in that moment.

“The problem was, if you look back in the incident with Lance Stroll, I don’t think the 10-second penalty was wrong. He deserved that.

“Then, when he comes in for that 10-second penalty, essentially, Mekies has admitted that someone touched the car.

“Basically, that car comes in for the 10-second penalty. Basically, can’t do anything. They can’t touch the car before that 10 seconds are up. It’s probably old school, someone standing there with a stopwatch saying 10 seconds go.

“And someone’s touched the car before then, so he’s had to come back in. So he was undone by that.

“But yeah, he finished a minute and 10 [seconds] behind Lando Norris, which was awful. And again, the Racing Bulls are in the points ahead of him. And that’s not a good look for him either.”

READ MORE: Red Bull driver Max Verstappen’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend

Helmut Marko gives his verdict on Yuki Tsunoda’s performance at the Brazilian Grand Prix

If Tsunoda is going to be retained by Red Bull for 2026, then the man he needs to impress is Helmut Marko.

Marko might not be as influential as he used to be at Red Bull, but Laurent Mekies and Alan Permane will take his input very seriously.

Writing in his column in Speedweek about Tsunoda, Marko said: “We have gained further insights for the remaining races, partly because Yuki Tsunoda’s car retained its original configuration so that we could learn more about the RB21’s set-up.

“Yuki was fast, by the way, but unfortunately, with two ten-second penalties, there wasn’t much he could do.

“However, in terms of lap times, the Japanese driver performed well in the race, but not in practice.”

Tsunoda potentially only has three race weekends left to prove himself to Red Bull, but time might already be running out after another disappointing event in Brazil.