Red Bull's Persistent No. 2 Driver Dilemma
Red Bull continues to grapple with its persistent "No. 2 driver" problem, highlighted by recent events at Interlagos where Yuki Tsunoda struggled while Max Verstappen overcame a setup blunder. The team urgently needs a second driver who can consistently score points and provide valuable feedback for car development, especially with the 2026 regulations approaching. This ongoing challenge threatens Red Bull's ability to maintain its competitive edge and innovate effectively.
Red Bull's recent struggles at Interlagos, where Max Verstappen delivered a heroic drive despite a setup blunder while Yuki Tsunoda continued to underperform, underscore a persistent problem for the team: finding a reliable second driver. This issue has implications not just for the drivers' careers but for Red Bull's ability to develop their car effectively, especially with new regulations on the horizon.
Why it matters:
- Red Bull isn't just looking for a driver to support Verstappen; they need a consistent points scorer who can provide valuable feedback on new parts and setups. The current scenario, with drivers struggling under pressure, hinders the team's development capabilities.
- The upcoming 2026 regulations will demand extensive car development, making the role of a capable second driver even more critical for testing and feedback. Without this, Red Bull risks falling behind in the innovation race.
The details:
- Interlagos Weekend Challenges: Red Bull's weekend started poorly, with Verstappen qualifying sixth and finishing fourth in the sprint. Tsunoda, on a high-downforce setup, qualified P18 and finished P13 in the sprint, indicating the setup was ineffective.
- Setup Blunder: In an unusual move, Red Bull changed Tsunoda's car specification by breaking parc ferme rules before the sprint, opting for a different underfloor and overall setup. Bizarrely, they applied the same setup to Verstappen's car, making it slower and leading to his first Q1 exit without a car issue.
- Verstappen's Recovery: Before the Grand Prix, Red Bull again broke parc ferme, giving Verstappen a new power unit and reverting his car closer to its original, successful setup based on overnight simulator work. This allowed him to recover and finish third.
- Tsunoda's Performance Pressure: Like previous Red Bull No. 2 drivers, Tsunoda appears to be driving under immense pressure, impacting his confidence. This can lead to either overdriving and making mistakes or being too tentative and slow, neither of which provides the consistent data Red Bull needs.
What's next:
- Driver Continuity: Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar is rumored to join Verstappen next year. However, his lack of experience might not solve Red Bull's problem of needing a driver who can provide mature, useful feedback to engineers.
- 2026 Regulations: The new regulations coming in 2026 will intensify the development race. Red Bull's ability to maximize car evolution will heavily depend on having a second driver who can consistently perform and contribute to testing and data collection. Without this, the team's long-term success could be jeopardized.
- Ongoing Pressure: The enormous pressure placed on Red Bull's second driver makes finding a successful candidate incredibly challenging. This deep-seated issue within the team's driver hierarchy is unlikely to be resolved easily, posing a significant hurdle for their future championship aspirations.