Red Bull Faces Teammate Dilemma for F1 Title Showdown

Red Bull is in a bind heading into the F1 championship finale: Max Verstappen desperately needs support, but a driver change is impossible. Insider Ralf Bach explains why Yuki Tsunoda will remain.

The 2025 F1 title fight is heading for its grand finale, and Red Bull finds itself in a self-inflicted dilemma. Max Verstappen urgently requires support from his teammate in the final race, but Yuki Tsunoda has consistently failed to deliver for months. As experts and fans question why Red Bull isn't replacing its second driver, F1-Insider Ralf Bach sheds light on the situation, explaining why an immediate change is out of the question despite the dramatic championship scenario.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's inability to swap out a struggling second driver for the season finale could significantly impact Max Verstappen's championship hopes. With Verstappen needing crucial strategic support to potentially secure the title against Lando Norris, Tsunoda's inconsistent performance poses a major tactical disadvantage for the team in a winner-takes-all scenario.

The Details:

• No Immediate Replacement: Ralf Bach states, "If they could, they would. But they have to make do with what they have." Red Bull is acutely aware of the critical situation but cannot implement a quick fix.
• Rookie Risk: Some pundits suggested putting youngster Isack Hadjar in the car, as he is slated to move up in 2026. However, Bach strongly disagrees: "That's not so simple; he would first have to get used to the car, and there's a risk of burning him out immediately." Throwing an unprepared rookie into a championship decider is simply too risky.
• Other Youngsters Not Ready: Arvid Lindblad, another promising talent, is also not an option for Abu Dhabi. He will participate in free practice as planned but nothing more. Despite ongoing criticism of Tsunoda, Red Bull simply has no viable short-term replacement.
• Tsunoda's Motivation: Red Bull plans to motivate Tsunoda by keeping him within the Red Bull family. According to F1-Insider information, he will take on a reserve driver role in 2026. Bach notes, "This also serves as motivation for the finale. They now have to give him a car with which he feels as comfortable as he did in the sprint qualifying in Qatar."
  • In that session, Tsunoda qualified fifth, outperforming Verstappen in qualifying for the first time this season. He narrowly missed an overtake on Norris at the sprint start.
• Verstappen's Challenge: If Tsunoda has another weak weekend, Verstappen will once again be fighting alone. Bach concludes, "You can't just bake a perfect teammate in a week."

The Big Picture:

Verstappen's victory in Qatar puts him at 396 points, just twelve behind Lando Norris (408). Oscar Piastri follows closely with 392 points. For Verstappen to become world champion in Abu Dhabi, a victory alone is not enough: he needs two drivers between himself and Norris. If Norris finishes second or third, Verstappen is out of luck, even if he wins.

• Tsunoda's Track Record: Throughout his Red Bull tenure, Tsunoda has never finished higher than sixth in a Grand Prix. In the main race in Qatar, he finished over a minute behind Verstappen.

What's next:

Red Bull will head into the Abu Dhabi showdown with a clear vulnerability. Verstappen will be fighting for the title, but the second Red Bull is likely to be a non-factor. In the decisive moment, the world champion will probably once again be left to fend for himself.