Impressive Tsunoda 'not intimidated' by Verstappen - Monaghan

Yuki Tsunoda has made a strong impression in his early races with Red Bull Racing, earning high praise from Chief Engineer Paul Monaghan for his seamless integration into the team.

After a long-awaited move to the senior outfit became reality at the Japanese Grand Prix, the former AlphaTauri/Racing Bulls hopeful stepped into the seat previously occupied by Liam Lawson, partnering with reigning champion Max Verstappen.

The young Japanese driver has shown flashes of brilliance, navigating the challenges of the RB21 to secure Q3 appearances in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Miami, alongside points finishes in two of the last three Grands Prix.

Monaghan believes Tsunoda’s adjustment to life in one of F1’s most competitive teams is progressing well, even under the spotlight of being Verstappen’s teammate.

“He seems to be settling in really well, actually. It’s not the easiest circumstances to step into,” commented Monaghan ahead of last weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.

“He came in, he’s been forthright in his feedback, he’s been courteous, he’s been a good team member. He’s been a little bit unlucky at times, lucky at others… He’s finding his feet.”

Confidence and Character in the Red Bull Garage

The Red Bull engineer also praised Tsunoda’s willingness to express his views and his resilience in the high-pressure environment of the Milton Keynes-based squad.

“He’s not afraid to speak his mind, he states what he wants and what he doesn’t like, which is good. He’s in the team, he’s a good member of it, and he’ll be fine.

“He seems able to avoid the intimidation of being Max’s team mate at the moment, so that’s really good. I’m impressed. He’s got more than a spine to him.”

Monaghan’s comments reflect a wider sense of optimism within Red Bull as they support the 24-year-old’s transition into a front-running team.

While the RB21 has presented its own set of challenges, both for Verstappen and the team’s engineers, Tsunoda’s ability to adapt and provide constructive feedback has been well received.

“He’s not afraid to speak his mind, he states what he wants and what he doesn’t like, which is good. He’s in the team, he’s a good member of it, and he’ll be fine,” added monaghan..

“He seems able to avoid the intimidation of being Max’s team mate at the moment, so that’s really good. I’m impressed. He’s got more than a spine to him.”

Eyes on Progress – One Step at a Time

As Tsunoda finds his rhythm, Red Bull continue to refine their 2025 challenger amid rival Mclaren’s current dominance. Despite a mixed start to the year, Monaghan remains encouraged by the team's trajectory.

“In terms of understanding it, good. We’ve made a lot of progress since its debut,” he said of the RB21.

“Obviously Japan [Verstappen’s pole position and victory] was a bit of a highlight, Bahrain [a battle for minor points] was a bit of a low point, but in terms of actually grasping and understanding it, we dusted ourselves down for Jeddah and we were a lot better in relative terms – we could have won it.

“So, understanding it, good, improving it, small steps – it’s not going to be a magic moment. Incrementally it will get better and better and better, and then we’ll see if we do it faster than our opposition.”

Red Bull currently sit third in the Constructors’ standings, trailing McLaren by 141 points, while Verstappen faces a 32-point deficit to Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship.

Yet amid the evolving title fight, Tsunoda’s emergence offers a bright spot – and perhaps, a glimpse of the team’s long-term future.

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