Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda was left ruing a strategic blunder that derailed what could have been a breakthrough performance at Spa-Francorchamps. The Japanese driver, who celebrated his 100th Grand Prix start with a stellar seventh-place qualifying result, saw his hopes of scoring vital championship points unravel due to a critical miscommunication with his team during a pivotal pit stop.
The error, which Tsunoda described as a “frustrating” moment, saw him plummet from a promising points-paying position to a disappointing 13th-place finish, extending his points drought since the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in May.
The race, held on Sunday, July 27, began under challenging wet conditions, with all drivers starting on intermediate tyres behind the safety car. As the track began to dry, the timing of the switch to slick tyres became a make-or-break decision. Tsunoda, running comfortably in seventh, was poised to capitalize on his best qualifying performance since joining Red Bull.
However, a delayed pit call from the Red Bull pit wall proved catastrophic. As Tsunoda barreled down the Spa straight, his race engineer issued a late “box, box” instruction, just as he passed the pit entry. The Japanese driver was forced to complete an additional lap on intermediates, a decision that cost him dearly on the seven-kilometer circuit.
“There was a miscommunication, I guess, between myself and the team,” Tsunoda said post-race, his frustration palpable. “I requested to switch to the dry tyre, they called me way too late. I had just passed the pit entry when they called me. One lap in these kinds of conditions is very decisive; I lost five positions and was stuck behind a bit all the race.” The late stop dropped Tsunoda into a DRS train behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, where he struggled with a lack of straight-line speed and excessive tyre wear, ultimately losing further positions to Haas’s Ollie Bearman and Nico Hulkenberg in the closing laps. “I tried my best to overtake, but my straight-line speed was nowhere,” Tsunoda added. “My tyres were gone, so it was frustrating.”
Red Bull’s new team principal, Laurent Mekies, was quick to accept responsibility for the blunder. “It was our mistake,” Mekies admitted in the post-race press conference. “We wanted to pit him on the same lap as Max [Verstappen], and everything was ready, but we simply called him too late. One lap made a big difference today.” The error was particularly stinging for Tsunoda, who had received a new floor upgrade for his RB21 between the sprint race and qualifying, aligning his car closer to teammate Max Verstappen’s specification. The upgrade delivered improved grip and stability, fueling optimism after Tsunoda’s first Q3 appearance since Miami. However, the race-day mishap overshadowed any gains.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko acknowledged the team’s error but also pointed to Tsunoda’s struggles with race pace. “There was a miscommunication, and then his speed was also not good,” Marko noted, adding that the team would need to analyze the data to pinpoint the exact cause. The comment underscores the ongoing pressure on Tsunoda, who sits 17th in the Drivers’ Championship with just 10 points in 2025, a stark contrast to Verstappen’s 165-point haul. With Red Bull trailing McLaren by 288 points in the Constructors’ Championship, the second driver’s contribution remains critical.
The Spa disappointment adds to a challenging season for Tsunoda, who replaced Liam Lawson after just two races in 2025. Despite flashes of potential, including consistent Q3 appearances, converting qualifying pace into race results has proven elusive. The RB21, designed around Verstappen’s aggressive driving style, has posed adaptation challenges for Tsunoda, compounded by limited spare parts that often prioritize the four-time champion.