Tsunoda gets timely Red Bull test to tackle mysterious pace drop

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Yuki Tsunoda has had a valuable opportunity to regroup and troubleshoot this week following a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix, with the Japanese driver completing on Wednesday two full days of running at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – one with Red Bull and the other with Pirelli.

Tsunoda has endured a tough run of form recently, capped off by qualifying last in Spain, a result that left him “baffled” by the car’s lack of pace.

On Sunday, the 25-year-old, starting his from the pitlane following Red Bull’s decision to make changes to his RB21, crossed the checkered flag a lowly P14, having lost out on a chance to score points when a late safety car disrupted the final stages of the race.

But his RB21’s crucial lack of pace of Tsunoda’s principal concern at the end of the day.

“This grand prix somehow [the pace] just drops massively for whatever reason, and I'm not able to show my performance which is a shame,” Tsunoda said, quoted by The Race.

“It's something that for this grand prix I feel is really, really strange."

Targeted Testing with Red Bull’s RB19

On Tuesday, Tsunoda completed a full day of Testing of Previous Car (TPC) running at Barcelona, driving a modified version of Red Bull’s 2023 RB19.

Unlike standard race weekends, TPC tests allow more freedom for set-up experimentation, which Red Bull sees as critical to helping Tsunoda better understand the car’s performance window and address setup inconsistencies.

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This test served as a make-up for an earlier planned TPC session in April at Silverstone, which was hampered by wet conditions. Red Bull chose not to risk wasting valuable mileage in sub-optimal weather back then — a decision that has paid off with this week’s clearer skies in Spain.

Pirelli Tyre Development and 2026 Preparations

On Wednesday, Tsunoda remained at the track for a second day of running, this time participating in Pirelli’s ongoing development programme for the 2026 tyre regulations.

Driving a 2026-specification mule car based on the RB19 chassis, according to a report from The Race, Tsunoda joined Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli in evaluating compounds for the future rule set.

Read also: F1i Driver Ratings for the 2025 Spanish GP

Though this type of test is heavily regulated to prevent teams from gaining a performance edge under the guise of tyre development, it still gave Tsunoda an opportunity to log more laps in Red Bull machinery and regain confidence behind the wheel.

While results from these tests won’t impact current-season performance directly, the data gathered — particularly from the more flexible TPC session — could prove crucial as Red Bull works to diagnose and resolve the form dip that has recently plagued Tsunoda.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.