Yuki Tsunoda has admitted he \u201cdidn\u2019t expect\u201d the opening day of running to be so challenging at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, conceding that he \u201cdoesn\u2019t know what\u2019s going on\u201d with his Red Bull RB21.<\/p>\n
Red Bull announced earlier this week that Tsunoda will be left without a seat for the F1 2026 season, with Isack Hadjar signed as his replacement as Max Verstappen\u2019s teammate.<\/p>\n
Yuki Tsunoda struggling ahead of final Red Bull appearance at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix<\/p>\n
With rookie Arvid Lindblad promoted from F2 to partner Liam Lawson at the Racing Bulls sister team, Tsunoda has effectively been demoted to a test-and-reserve role for next season.<\/p>\n
Tsunoda has struggled since replacing Lawson at Red Bull\u2019s senior team ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix in April, scoring points just seven times behind the wheel of the RB21.<\/p>\n
Tsunoda\u2019s woes continued on Friday at Yas Marina, where he lapped almost a second slower than Verstappen and was classified 17th \u2013 ahead only of Lawson and the Alpines of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly \u2013 in FP2.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen vs Yuki Tsunoda: Red Bull Racing head-to-head scores for F1 2025<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head qualifying statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49\u00a0F1 2025: Head-to-head race statistics between team-mates<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking after the session, Tsunoda admitted he was bemused by his lack of pace and the size of his deficit to Verstappen.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to it to be this challenging, to be honest.<\/p>\n \u201cJust too far away. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on, to be honest, but we\u2019ll have to see why; what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n \u201cThe gap is one of the worst in the season, so let\u2019s see.\u201d<\/p>\n Asked how comfortable he felt behind the wheel of the RB21 in second practice, he added: \u201cI didn\u2019t feel much comfortable, let\u2019s be honest.<\/p>\n \u201cThe car, I just kept sliding around, so we have to find out why and what\u2019s causing this issue. Not really good.\u201d<\/p>\n Tsunoda\u2019s latest comments come after he admitted on Thursday that the reality<\/a> of being left without a seat for F1 2026 is yet to hit home.<\/p>\n He told PlanetF1.com and other media outlets:\u00a0\u201cObviously, I\u2019m disappointed, and p*ssed off.<\/p>\n \u201cI was told [of the decision] right after the race [in Qatar], from Helmut [Marko], privately, that I\u2019m not racing next year.<\/p>\n \u201cSurprisingly, I\u2019m OK. I\u2019m surviving okay. The morning after, I ordered breakfast as usual, the same food.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably, I\u2019m not recognising enough it will be the last race for this year, for next year. Maybe I\u2019ll feel more after Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that\u2019s how it went and how I feel now.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Yuki Tsunoda and Red Bull Racing from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n \ud83d\udc49 Yuki Tsunoda news<\/a><\/p>\n