Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda has once again come under scrutiny after the FIA flagged his unusually slow pace during a session at the Belgian Grand Prix. This incident has added to an already challenging debut season for the Japanese driver, who has only managed to score points on three occasions. Since his promotion to the main Red Bull team, expectations have been high, but Tsunoda’s underwhelming performances have drawn criticism and placed him under mounting pressure from within the team.
That pressure became even more apparent in June when Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s senior advisor, publicly acknowledged that the team had written off its constructors’ title hopes. He directly criticized Tsunoda, highlighting the driver’s lack of pace and failure to deliver consistent results. Marko’s comments, describing the 24-year-old’s season as “not good enough,” have lingered over Tsunoda’s campaign, casting a shadow over each race weekend.
During Friday’s session in Belgium, Tsunoda was investigated by the FIA for driving too slowly, which raised safety concerns. While such reviews are common due to strict enforcement of lap-time regulations, the situation was made worse by Tsunoda’s reputation for being off the pace. The timing of the incident only reinforced existing doubts about his readiness for a seat at a championship-contending team like Red Bull.
The issue has become symbolic of the broader narrative surrounding Tsunoda’s stint with Red Bull. Driving for such a high-performing team comes with heightened expectations and relentless comparisons. Even relatively minor infractions, such as failing to meet minimum speed requirements, take on greater significance when they align with a pattern of underperformance. For Tsunoda, this incident was another reminder that he has yet to meet the team’s demanding standards.
Looking ahead, Tsunoda faces a critical challenge. He must not only clean up his on-track discipline but also demonstrate the speed and consistency expected at Red Bull. With only a few points-scoring finishes to his name, he risks confirming the doubts raised by critics and team leadership alike. The Belgian Grand Prix episode, though not major on its own, could be a pivotal moment unless he quickly turns his season around with improved results and greater composure on track.
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