Yuki Tsunoda Details Profound Exhaustion and Mental Strain During Challenging Red Bull F1 Season

The highly coveted, yet notoriously demanding, second seat at Red Bull Racing has historically presented a formidable challenge for even the most talented drivers in Formula 1. In the pre-2026 F1 eras, the rigorous expectations of partnering reigning champion Max Verstappen have led to significant mental and professional casualties, creating a consistent narrative of pressure and underperformance for many. Drivers like Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, and Sergio Perez have each navigated the intense scrutiny of this role with varying degrees of success and difficulty, often finding themselves struggling to match Verstappen’s unparalleled pace and consistency. Even a brief, promising stint by Liam Lawson at the beginning of the 2025 season underscored the immense pressure, ultimately leading to his departure from the main team. It was into this crucible that Yuki Tsunoda stepped, inheriting the challenging position with a nearly full campaign ahead to prove his mettle, albeit significantly disadvantaged by never having driven the RB21 prior to his mid-season team switch.

Tsunoda’s 2025 season with Red Bull Racing proved to be an arduous journey. Despite the opportunity to compete at the pinnacle of the sport, he struggled profoundly throughout the campaign, culminating in a 17th-place finish in the drivers’ standings. This outcome stood in stark contrast to his teammate Max Verstappen, who, despite missing the world title by a mere two points, consistently demonstrated the car’s championship-contending capabilities. The performance gap, coupled with the inherent pressure of Red Bull’s high-stakes environment, took a substantial toll on the Japanese driver, pushing him to his physical and psychological limits.

In a candid interview on the "Beyond The Grid" podcast, Tsunoda openly discussed the draining nature of his 2025 season, reflecting on the immense effort he expended to close the performance gap to Verstappen, an endeavour that ultimately proved futile. "Definitely, 2025 was the toughest year in my career, and I learned heaps of things," Tsunoda stated, encapsulating the profound impact of the season. He elaborated on his usual coping mechanisms, explaining, "I’m the kind of person, as soon as I had good food or whatever, I was able to reset myself between the race weeks." However, as the season progressed, particularly into the second half, these methods ceased to be effective. "But I started to really struggle, towards the second half of the season especially; somehow when I came back to my house, I felt very exhausted."

This persistent exhaustion began to erode his enjoyment of the sport. Tsunoda confessed that the customary energy boost he typically derived from engaging in activities he enjoyed simply vanished. "Normally I’m able to reset myself, get back this energy after I had something that I really like, if I do something that I really like. But I didn’t feel that energy, [it] never came back, and the races just kept going and going, going, going." The relentless nature of the Formula 1 calendar, with its back-to-back races and intense travel, exacerbated his inability to recover mentally and physically.

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The psychological burden became so severe that it affected his fundamental connection to racing. "I had so much up and down, and at some point I just recognised myself that I’m not really enjoying my life, I would say, like I’m not really enjoying the situation, not really enjoying driving Formula 1 probably as much as I was doing the first three years." This admission highlights the severe mental strain he endured, a sentiment rarely expressed by drivers in such a competitive and high-profile sport. The struggle prompted an introspection beyond the confines of the racetrack. "So, it was a very tough time, and outside of racing, try to solve this issue, right? What can I do to help that?"

His self-reflection led to a significant personal realization. Tsunoda identified a crucial factor contributing to his malaise: his distance from his support network in Japan. "And if I look back, is there something else other than eating food or this stuff? What makes me happy? And normally it’s friends, but mostly friends in Japan and… Okay, I really recognised, actually I’m away from Japan. That I really never thought about since probably my first year in F3." This newfound understanding of his emotional needs prompted him to seek professional assistance. "Okay, this is tough, something that I have to resolve myself. I got help quite a lot with psychology, trainer and a lot of things, but the race [schedule] was pretty busy in the second half, so it was a pretty tough time." Despite the difficulties, Tsunoda views the experience as transformative. "But at the same time, the year gave me the opportunity to look myself through a lot more than any other years."

The culmination of his challenging Red Bull stint saw Tsunoda lose his coveted full-time seat on the Formula 1 grid. Isack Hadjar was promoted to Red Bull Racing, while Arvid Lindblad made his F1 debut with the Racing Bulls (VCARB) team, effectively pushing Tsunoda into a reserve driver role for both Red Bull and VCARB. This demotion, while a setback, ultimately proved to be a turning point, offering a period of reflection and growth away from the immediate intensity of full-time competition.

A twist of fate, however, provided Tsunoda with an unexpected route back to the grid. Over the summer break, Isack Hadjar sustained a wrist injury, necessitating a temporary replacement at Red Bull Racing. Liam Lawson, who had initially taken the second Red Bull seat in 2025, was consequently moved back to Red Bull to cover Hadjar’s absence. This shift created a vacant seat at Racing Bulls, which Tsunoda was offered. This allowed the 26-year-old to return to the Italian squad for the latest three Grands Prix, commencing from Zandvoort. This unanticipated return, following his intense 2025 experience, has provided Tsunoda with a renewed perspective and a profound sense of personal and professional development.

Reflecting on his current mindset and performance, Tsunoda expressed a newfound resilience and comfort under pressure. "Not sure I’m gonna have that much pressure and struggle, difficult times, as much as I had in 2025," he affirmed, indicating a significant shift in his psychological approach. He now feels better equipped to handle high-stakes situations. "So everything comes so far with big challenges. Somehow I’m able to enjoy that kind of pressure moments and I feel very comfortable."

His recent performances with Racing Bulls, despite the immediate challenges, underscore this change. "Jumping into the car that I’ve never driven, spring qualifying format, VCARB team’s doing really well, running P5 in the teams’ championship – you can’t really mess up for the race, you want to have points. Somehow I was like, I really feel okay, I didn’t feel that much pressure.” This ability to remain composed and perform under new and demanding circumstances, such as adapting quickly to an unfamiliar car and the unique pressures of a sprint qualifying format while contributing to VCARB’s strong constructors’ championship position, speaks volumes about his evolved mental fortitude.

The trials of 2025, which pushed him to the brink of disengagement from the sport, have ultimately forged a more resilient and self-aware driver. When asked if he anticipates any future career challenges to be as difficult as what he endured during that year, Tsunoda’s response was definitive and confident: "I don’t think so." This statement not only signifies a personal triumph over adversity but also positions him as a driver who has navigated one of Formula 1’s most challenging roles and emerged with invaluable lessons, ready for the next chapter of his career. His journey serves as a poignant reminder of the intense psychological demands placed upon elite athletes and the profound personal growth that can arise from their most difficult experiences.

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Jonas Leo: Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.

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