Red Bull Apologizes to Yuki Tsunoda over Belgian GP Blunder

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies apologized to Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda after the team made a mistake in strategy.

Tsunoda started in seventh position, one of his best starts while at the senior Red Bull team.

He looked poised to capture a massive points haul, but he ended up finishing outside of the top 10.

During the first half of the race, when all the cars had intermediate tires, Tsunoda maintained a points-scoring position. As the track dried up, some of the cars started pitting for slick tires.

Yuki Tsunoda of Japan and Oracle Red Bull Racing with Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing during the F1 Grand Prix of Belgium at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps on July 27, 2025 in…

Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Red Bull called Tsunoda in too late and forced him to complete another lap on worn-out intermediate tires while everyone else had slick tires and were completing outlaps at much faster times.

Mekies accepted responsibility for Tsunoda’s failing to capitalize on his impressive qualifying position.

“We called him too late today and that’s cost him position[s],” Mekies told Formula 1.

“So sorry to him for that, because he was doing a good race until [then]. The crew was ready, we simply called him too late so we’ll certainly do better next time there.”

“He did a very strong qualifying yesterday. We upgraded the car just before qualifying, but it’s so difficult to adapt […] with new conditions in a qualifying session like that. He did a very, very strong job, so I’m very happy for him.

“Today he had the right pace as well and he was certainly up for some good points, but that’s how it went.

“So we take the good step forward this weekend and hopefully we carry on in Budapest.”

While there may be lingering disappointment, Tsunoda should take solace in his impressive performance in qualifying and during the race.

He should be motivated to repeat his results, especially since he looks closer to his teammate Max Verstappen than ever.

If he keeps performing at this level, the Japanese driver might keep his seat or at the very least, attract another team.