Yuki Tsunoda firmly refutes any suggestion that his setup is responsible for Max Verstappen's surprising early exit from qualifying at the São Paulo Grand Prix. This incident has sparked quite a bit of discussion, especially considering Verstappen's status as a four-time world champion, who was only able to secure 16th place in Q1, while Tsunoda was also eliminated in 19th. Such a result marked a rare occasion—the first time since 2006 that Red Bull experienced a double elimination in the initial qualifying phase—a clear sign that this weekend might be turning into a challenging one for the team.
Despite the setbacks, Verstappen managed to finish fourth in the Sprint race at Interlagos but voiced numerous concerns about his RB21’s performance. Meanwhile, Tsunoda managed to improve from his starting position in the pit lane to finish 13th in the qualifying, having started from the back due to the team making several adjustments to his car before qualifying. Interestingly, these same modifications were later applied to Verstappen’s car for his qualifying runs.
Tsunoda reported feeling improvements after the changes, feeling more comfortable in the car, yet Verstappen’s difficulties seemed to intensify, casting serious doubt on his championship prospects this season. When asked about the adjustments his side of the garage made—adjustments that Verstappen also took benefit from—Tsunoda explained to select media outlets like RacingNews365: "Yes, some of the things we changed for the Sprint race gave us a better understanding of how to improve the car. We believed that these changes could help."
He added, “A couple of those setups were based on what I was using, but I want to clarify that I don’t believe my setup was the main issue. The key factor is really how well the tires respond and work on the track."
Tsunoda continued, “From our side of the team, we managed to make significant progress with some of the parts we changed after the sprint, and I definitely felt a noticeable improvement in the car’s handling.” However, he also acknowledged a major issue that emerged—an obstacle that seems quite serious—and expressed disappointment that the team was unable to fully capitalize on the progress they made.
And here’s where it gets controversial—while Tsunoda sees their adjustments as a positive step, Verstappen’s struggles have cast a shadow over Red Bull’s weekend, raising questions about whether the setup changes truly benefited everyone equally or if some drivers are more affected than others. Could this be a sign of deeper issues within the team’s approach? Or is it simply the unpredictable nature of racing? What’s your take—are these struggles just part of the sport, or is there more beneath the surface that could shake up the championship fight? Let’s hear your thoughts.
