Helmut Marko names Yuki Tsunoda as the one driver on the same level of Max Verstappen, but admits the 24-year-old doesn’t have the same performance when they’re under pressure.
The man from Japan was promoted to Red Bull in April 2025 at the expense of Liam Lawson, who headed to Racing Bulls, and has shown solid speed in his debut appearances, but shows similar struggles to his predecessors.
Tsunoda has made three Q3 appearances but is yet to have a completely smooth weekend as he looks to get to grips with an RB21 package that proves exceptionally tough to handle.
The car proves very unpredictable in terms of which side of that fence it wants to fall on when it comes to oversteer and understeer, varying from corner-to-corner and leaving drivers baffled.
It also boasts a very narrow set-up window that only the defending champion’s side of the garage seems to understand considering he is yet to qualify below seventh and has also taken victory at the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
But in perfect conditions, Tsunoda does prove to have a relatively similar pace to Verstappen, hanging just a couple of tenths behind; which is why the 82-year-old Marko names the driver as the only teammate on the four-time champion’s level.
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“Yuki is getting better and better,” Marko told OE24 at the Miami International Autodrome. “He is the first teammate of Verstappen who is actually at the level of Max.
“Unfortunately, he still makes too many mistakes as soon as the pressure increases.”
Hadjar to Red Bull? Marko sends warning message.
However, with Red Bull famed for their cold approach to underperforming drivers, Marko may have just fired Tsunoda a warning shot that he has to start stepping up his game soon.
He does so by turning the praise to his ex-teammate in Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar. The 20-year-old rookie has impressed in his debut campaign, with handy speed over a qualifying lap. He’s also added five points to his haul whilst Lawson is on zero.
“I certainly wouldn’t underestimate him,” Marko said of Hadjar to OE24. “He [almost] snatched another world championship point in Miami by a few hundredths.”
