Mekies and Marko reaffirm support for Tsunoda amid speculation

Red Bull team boss Laurent Mekies has made clear that Yuki Tsunoda’s seat in the team is not under immediate threat, despite the Japanese driver’s recent struggles and lack of results.

The Japanese driver’s recent string of Q1 exits and a persistent points drought have inevitably led to speculation that his days are numbered at Red Bull, and that another change might be in the works, with racing bulls Isack Hadjar seen as the next driver in line to take on the perilous task of racing alongside Max Verstappen.

But speaking during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Mekies insisted the focus remains on giving Tsunoda the tools to extract his best performance.

“The priority is to give Yuki what he needs to perform,” Mekies told Sky Sports F1. “That’s where, with regards to the second seat, that’s where the priority is. It’s what the team is concentrated on.

“They have been trying that for a number of races now. We are trying to find ways together to make a further step. You know, Spa was very positive, certainly from that perspective.

“Here it’s a bit of a tricky weekend overall, so it’s probably a bit more difficult to judge.

“But there is no reason why Yuki’s performance cannot be what we have seen in the past. And that’s what we are concentrated on right now.”

While Tsunoda has faced a string of Q1 exits and a points drought, Mekies’ comments suggest the team is prioritising long-term growth over short-term changes.

Marko: 2026 Decision Will Wait Until Later

Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko confirmed that the team’s driver line-up for 2026 will not be determined any time soon, reiterating the organisation’s traditional approach to evaluating its roster.

“Our driver evaluation traditionally takes place after the summer break,” Marko said. “At the moment, everything is open. We’re looking at performances – both positive and negative.”

Marko believes Tsunoda has still been showing signs of improvement, despite recent setbacks.

“He was as near as never before, one-tenth he was behind,” Marko said. “But unfortunately, he was dropped out in Q1. He’s moving up.”

Tsunoda Confident Gap to Verstappen is Shrinking

For his part, Tsunoda has pointed to the introduction of a floor upgrade at Spa as a turning point in the team’s progress this season.

“Looking back on the season so far, I can feel pretty positive, we’ve made progress, especially since the new floor upgrades were brought to Spa,” Tsunoda said.

• Read also: Villeneuve slams Tsunoda as Verstappen’s ‘worst teammate’ ever

“The gap with Max continues to close. It may not feel like we are getting there but on paper we are only one tenth off his pace. I’m not sure many other drivers could get as close to him.”

With both Mekies and Marko highlighting patience and steady improvement, Tsunoda’s focus remains firmly on converting that pace into consistent points. The message from Red Bull’s leadership is clear: there is still time and belief in his ability to deliver.

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