Overview

• Tsunoda was eliminated in Q1 at the Spanish Grand Prix, setting the slowest lap in qualifying and lining up 20th on the grid.
• He reported no obvious balance faults yet suffered heavy tyre degradation and unexplained grip loss despite extensive setup changes.
• Helmut Marko confirmed Tsunoda’s RB21 still runs an older underbody spec after his Imola crash, a factor in the widening gap to Verstappen.
• Christian Horner described the weekend’s performance as perplexing and has instructed a detailed analysis of car setup and component distribution.
• Tsunoda’s ongoing difficulties mirror a long history of challenges in Red Bull’s second seat, though Verstappen publicly defended his teammate’s capabilities.