Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda Finishes Last in Spanish GP Qualifying

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull's new driver, struggled significantly in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, starting last for the seventh race with a disappointing performance that left both him and the team searching for answers. Despite showing promising pace in earlier sessions and sometimes matching teammate Max Verstappen during practice, Tsunoda experienced a sharp decline in performance, which he described as a "drop like hell," citing massive tire degradation and sliding issues he and the team have yet to resolve. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko noted that Tsunoda's car is not yet identical to Verstappen's due to damage sustained in a recent crash, and the team is conducting a thorough review to understand his lack of pace, particularly why Tsunoda fails to improve in qualifying compared to practice. Tsunoda ruled out car setup as the cause, expressing confidence in the car balance and his own driving, but acknowledged a "core limitation" in performance that remains unexplained. The pressure on Tsunoda intensifies as Red Bull continues to compare his results unfavorably to Verstappen's, with the team's second seat proving challenging for drivers, as seen previously with Sergio Pérez. The team's analysis and Tsunoda's efforts in Sunday's race will be crucial to determining his future prospects within the Red Bull Formula 1 team.