Formula 1 Bahrain GP
Helmut Marko explains Yuki Tsunoda's poor performance in free practice
Helmut Marko defended Yuki Tsunoda’s poor Bahrain GP practice showing.
Alex Harrington
Edited: Apr 11, 2025, 6:19 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko has revealed that Yuki Tsunoda's underwhelming performance so far this Bahrain Grand Prix weekend has been down to experimental setup changes over a lack of pace.
The Japanese driver finished P18 in FP2, 1.519 seconds off the pace of timesheet leader Oscar Piastri. This would raise concerns had it not been for the fact that the team was experimenting with the car.
"Yuki we did try something else, so his time is not representative," Marko explained to Motorsport.com and other media following the second practice session on Friday. "He will be for sure faster tomorrow."
Tsunoda joined Red Bull after impressing in the sister team, Racing Bulls. Liam Lawson, underperforming in the top team, was demoted after just two race weekends, allowing the 24-year-old driver, who had been waiting four years for the opportunity, to move up beside Max Verstappen.
Since this promotion, Tsunoda has been slowly adapting to the challenging RB21 after limited time behind the wheel on his first weekend with the team. He hopes he can extract more of the car's performance this weekend.
“[Compared to] Thursday [at the] same time last week, I’m much calmer now just naturally because of less [PR] activities, and I’m able to have a bit more time to think about the preparation and everything,” Tsunoda said.
“Also, now I know how the car behaves, at least a little bit more than how I started last week. Everything [is] positive, a couple of modifications I’ve done to adjust a little bit more, the seat and everything, so I think we’ll be good.”
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Toshifumi Kitamura - AFP - Getty Images
Marko also addressed the brake issue both drivers were seemingly experiencing under the lights of the Bahrain International Circuit.
"That's also something which affected Max more, but that I think we can sort out," the Austrian said.
These issues were evident as the Dutchman struggled during FP2.
"The final corner, the brakes again just don't work," he complained to his engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
This issue is one of many the Milton Keynes team has been struggling with so far this season. While Verstappen took a commanding win in Japan, the outfit is struggling with its machinery's narrow operating window.
“It’s a good motivation for the team, but we are still looking into how we can improve our car quickly," Verstappen said on his Japan success.
“It’s nice to have that little motivation boost, but we are very aware of what our limitations are, and we know we still have to work on that. Hopefully every weekend we can make tiny progressions.”
Photos from Bahrain GP - Practice
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
2025 Bahrain GP - Friday
Formula 1
63
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Helmut Marko offers Isack Hadjar verdict after Bahrain practice
Next article Fernando Alonso addresses bizarre steering wheel error in Bahrain FP2
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Harrington
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
11 h
Lando Norris faces anxious wait as F2 prepares to decide future of his racing team
Fans can't get enough of Max Verstappen's floral race boots after Singapore win
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Fans can't get enough of Max Verstappen's floral race boots after Singapore win
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
More from
Helmut Marko
Helmut Marko lands new Austrian GP role after Red Bull retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Helmut Marko lands new Austrian GP role after Red Bull retirement
Helmut Marko details what Red Bull has to do to keep Max Verstappen
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain Pre-Season 1
Helmut Marko details what Red Bull has to do to keep Max Verstappen
Helmut Marko reflects on Red Bull era with Max Verstappen: "No one could have imagined"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Haas launch
Helmut Marko reflects on Red Bull era with Max Verstappen: "No one could have imagined"
More from
Red Bull Racing
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Formula 1
Formula 1 29 min
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Did Max Verstappen already know the impact of Red Bull’s big upgrade when he signed his new deal?
Latest news
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 29 min
How Geri Halliwell helped Christian Horner deal with fan hate
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
Portimão
55 min
Max Verstappen stars with 15-place charge in 45 minutes: 'I learned a lot and had fun'
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe