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Yuki Tsunoda explains large gap to Max Verstappen in Jeddah qualifying

Yuki Tsunoda denies that he’s “struggling” at Red Bull, but admits he has a lot to learn about the notoriously tricky RB21

Emily Selleck Filip Cleeren
Edited:
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Yuki Tsunoda lost out to Max Verstappen in Jeddah, qualifying P8 for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix while his teammate claimed pole. The recently-promoted Red Bull driver said he isn’t “struggling,” but emphasized how tricky the RB21 is to drive. 

“I had a massive snap in turn 4. When I push more, this unpredictable snap keeps happening and it’s just really hard to reach the limit,” he told reporters after the session.

Tsunoda said he was much more confident in the RB car over the past four seasons and knew how to find the limit. “I could squeeze out the last few seconds, or few milliseconds, but currently it's hard to find the limit so I’m really frustrated,” he added.

Watch: Was This as Magical a Pole as Max in Suzuka? Saudi Arabia GP Qualifying Report

The Japanese driver, who was only promoted to Red Bull at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix just three weeks ago, wants to give himself more time to get up to speed with the “unpredictable” car. “I wouldn't say I’m struggling [against Verstappen] because it’s only the third race, but it’s really unpredictable so far… I still don’t know why I had that snap.”

Tsunoda also admitted he could learn from Verstappen’s ability to set up and handle the car in different conditions.

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“Maybe I was too comfortable with the setup I had in free practice, which is when the track was in a bad condition. But when the track got better with these cold temperatures, maybe I have to think about it slightly more,” he explained, noting he found it harder to drive as the track rubbered in.

“For me, it was worse when the track got better and better, so that's the difficult part,” he lamented. 

Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Practice & Qualifying

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oliver Oakes, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Romain Grosjean

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Red Bull Racing pit crew ready for a pitstop

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday
Formula 1
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