News Summary
- Yuki Tsunoda has described 2025 as the toughest season of his career and his life
- The Japanese driver says his struggles at Red Bull affected him even during weekends away from F1
- Tsunoda sought outside help and says the experience ultimately helped him understand himself better
Yuki Tsunoda has opened up about the personal impact of his difficult 2025 Formula 1 season with Red Bull, admitting he reached a point where he was no longer enjoying life away from the circuit.
Tsunoda started last year strongly with Racing Bulls before being promoted to Red Bull after only two rounds, replacing Liam Lawson alongside Max Verstappen. What initially represented the biggest opportunity of his career developed into an eight-month struggle, with Tsunoda unable to consistently extract performance from the car before losing his race seat for 2026.
“After Japan, it was definitely the toughest season in my career, and in my life,” Tsunoda said on F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast. “But at the same time, I learned quite a lot about myself. I went through a lot of things.”
The Japanese driver explained that the effects extended beyond disappointing results and difficult race weekends. Even when he had time away from Formula 1, he struggled to disconnect from what was happening on track.
“Obviously you’re always exhausted after a race, and in the weeks when you don’t have a race, normally you want to kind of enjoy it and have a reset,” he said.
“When I was trying to do that last season, I just felt emotionally super down, and I didn’t know where it was coming from.”
Tsunoda sought outside help during Red Bull struggle
Recognising that the situation was affecting more than his driving, Tsunoda decided he needed help understanding how to deal with it.
“I thought, ‘Okay, this is something I have to change,'” he said. “I needed some external help to be happier, and to learn about myself.”
Tsunoda said the process forced him to consider something he had rarely had time to address during his rise through motorsport: what gave him satisfaction outside racing.
“I started to think about myself, and definitely, without that season, it wouldn’t have given me that kind of solution,” he added.
His difficulties were reflected in the results. Verstappen finished second in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship with 421 points, while Tsunoda ended the year 17th with 33. Verstappen also held a substantial advantage over his teammate in both qualifying and race head-to-heads.
Red Bull ultimately promoted Isack Hadjar for 2026, leaving Tsunoda as reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls after five consecutive seasons as a full-time F1 racer.
Losing F1 seat reinforced Tsunoda’s desire to return
Time away from the grid has given Tsunoda a different perspective on the sport. Rather than convincing him to pursue a career elsewhere, the experience of watching Formula 1 from the sidelines has strengthened his determination to return.
The 26-year-old has continued training as though he could be called upon at any moment and says he is in the best physical condition of his career.
Watching the opening races of 2026 proved difficult, particularly once the championship moved from testing into competitive weekends. Tsunoda said that experience made him recognise “how much I care about this sport, and how hungry I am to get back in a seat.”
There is currently no confirmed route back to a full-time F1 drive for Tsunoda, who remains focused on his reserve responsibilities rather than trying to predict his next opportunity.
The difference from 2025 is how he is approaching the situation away from the circuit. After a season in which the pressure of racing for Red Bull followed him into his personal life, Tsunoda says he is now using his time outside the car to focus on himself and find a healthier balance while waiting for another chance.
GRANDE PRÊMIO continues to follow the championship through its Formula 1 coverage.
FAQ
Why did Yuki Tsunoda describe 2025 as his toughest F1 season?
Tsunoda struggled after being promoted from Racing Bulls to Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen. He says the difficulties affected him emotionally even away from race weekends and described 2025 as the toughest season of both his career and his life.
Did Yuki Tsunoda seek help during his Red Bull struggles?
Yes. Tsunoda said he sought external help after recognising that he was struggling to feel happy away from racing. He says the process helped him understand himself better and identify what gives him positive energy outside Formula 1.
Will Yuki Tsunoda return to Formula 1?
Tsunoda does not currently have a confirmed full-time F1 seat. He is serving as reserve driver for Red Bull and Racing Bulls in 2026 and says he remains determined to return to the grid.
Tags: Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull, F1, Max Verstappen
