Daily News 19

Tag: Red Bull Racing

  • Yuki Tsunoda Reveals Why He Failed to Master Red Bull’s 2025 F1 Car

    Yuki Tsunoda Reveals Why He Failed to Master Red Bull’s 2025 F1 Car

    Key Highlights

    • Yuki Tsunoda finished 17th in the 2025 drivers’ standings with 30 points, while teammate Max Verstappen won eight grands prix and scored 385 points during their time together.
    • Tsunoda admits attempting to replicate Verstappen’s car set-ups was his “biggest mistake,” as the RB21’s characteristics remained elusive despite his prior experience with Red Bull’s philosophy.
    • Red Bull informed Tsunoda he would not be retained for 2026 at the Qatar Grand Prix; he described the news as a relief after a “so stressful” second half of the season.

    The Unprecedented Gap: Tsunoda’s 2025 Red Bull Ordeal

    It seems almost unfathomable for a title contender’s team-mate to end up 17th in the Formula 1 drivers’ standings, yet that is precisely what happened to Yuki Tsunoda alongside Max Verstappen at Red Bull in 2025. In a way, it was unprecedented; the closest modern parallel was perhaps Felipe Massa lying 16th eight rounds into the 2012 season while Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso comfortably led the championship, though the Brazilian managed to turn that situation around. Tsunoda’s case was unique. Having decided to release an underperforming Sergio Perez, Red Bull initially picked Liam Lawson over Tsunoda for a 2025 promotion, believing the New Zealander’s lack of experience would be offset by his allegedly higher potential. Lawson did not get much time to prove himself. After two grands prix in which he was eliminated in Q1 and failed to score any points, he was sent back to Racing Bulls, with Tsunoda finally getting his chance at the main team.

    Pre-Season Optimism Meets RB21 Reality

    At the time, the Japanese driver was quite bullish about his odds of succeeding where so many others had failed. “People often say Red Bull cars tend to have strong front-end grip. I personally love cars that turn aggressively, and in the past, I adapted my driving style to that kind of set-up,” Tsunoda said ahead of his Red Bull debut. “Racing Bulls traditionally had cars that understeered a bit more, which was challenging for me at first, but I got used to it, and it eventually became my norm. Now, the key will be adjusting to Red Bull’s characteristics again, but considering my past experience, I’m not too worried about it.”

    Perhaps he should have been. While Verstappen won eight grands prix—more than anyone, including 2025 champion Lando Norris—Tsunoda failed to take a single podium finish, with his highest result an underwhelming sixth in Baku; he scored 30 points to his team-mate’s 385 over their time together. In 27 qualifying sessions (sprints included), Tsunoda made it to Q3 eight times, was out in Q2 on nine occasions, and was eliminated as early as Q1 on 10 occurrences. He outqualified his team-mate just once and was 0.6s slower on average. So, what was the problem with Red Bull’s RB21 F1 car? To some extent, Tsunoda remains at a loss to explain it. “Normally I’m able to understand the car, what I’m driving, what kind of characteristic,” Tsunoda detailed on the Beyond The Grid podcast, “but it feels like even after Abu Dhabi, I didn’t know what kind of car I was driving. I still don’t understand what was the issue and what things made me very struggle to learn about this car and get used to the car. I thought confidence was there, but some race I just somehow lost the confidence. I still don’t understand the car, to be honest.”

    The Setup Trap: Replicating Verstappen’s Philosophy

    Still, Tsunoda has fascinating insight to provide. He openly admits he refrained from tweaking his driving style, believing that is just what works for him. However, he did end up trying out Verstappen’s set-ups—and that experiment just failed. “One thing about myself: I have big enough ego to not change my driving style,” Tsunoda admitted. “I know what I’m doing in terms of driving and I believe in myself. So, I never try to change my driving style to another driver’s, even though the driver is competitive and fast. Obviously for Max, it’s a different case. He’s a world champion, he proves a lot of things and I still learn a lot of things from his driving. My core driving is the same. And at some time, probably the first year out of any years since I started, I thought about changing driving style and trying to do something similar to Max. But in my perspective, if I just look at data, I didn’t really see a huge difference in terms of driving. What I did most—and what I think now was the biggest mistake last year—was to try to replicate the set-up, what he’s doing; even knowing that sometimes, if I feel the car very oversteer, Max’s [set-up] in theory makes the car worse, more sensitive in the direction change, or makes the car slide more. I tend to choose the set-up, even though I’m already struggling with oversteer. It can happen sometimes the opposite way as well: even though I’m struggling with understeer, his car is more understeer. I try to replicate that.”

    Echoes of Albon: A Familiar Red Bull Struggle

    Tsunoda is not the first driver to unsuccessfully attempt to use Verstappen’s set-up. Alex Albon too struggled alongside the Dutchman, for a year and a half, in 2019-20. Back in 2023, the Anglo-Thai reminisced in the High Performance Podcast: “[Verstappen] has quite a unique driving style, it’s not that easy to get along with. Everyone has a driving style; I would say my driving style is a bit more on the smooth side, but I like a car that has a good front end, so quite sharp, quite direct. Max does too, but his level of sharp and direct is a whole different level—it’s eye-wateringly sharp. To give people kind of maybe an explanation of what that might feel like, if you bump up the sensitivity [on a computer game] completely to the max and you move that mouse and it’s just darting across the screen everywhere, that’s kind of how it feels. It becomes so sharp that it makes you a little bit tense.”

    This metaphor was brought up to Tsunoda, but he was not convinced it was particularly relevant to the RB21. Asked if he could relate, the Japanese racer said: “Yes and no. First, the car is a lot different to when Alex was driving. And I’ve never driven Alex’s car. I tend to force the car how I want to drive. It’s sensitive, but I didn’t feel that sensitive. But at the same time, like I said, it was very up and down. Some tracks I’m driving more sensitive car than him, some tracks he was driving more sensitive. On average, probably he was driving a bit more sensitive car, more like a sharper car than me. What he was definitely better at was, even though the car was sensitive or even numb… In a corner, there’s always one phase or one moment that the car naturally reacts to, or tries to kind of respect its own behaviour. You know what I mean? Like, always in the corner, as soon as I turn in or whatever, that car does its own thing. That can be like a sensitive, sharp rotation or, I don’t know, the front slides or something. He’s able to use that and he can smell that kind of behaviour probably much faster than me. And he was able to maximise that kind of behaviour throughout the corner. It’s not necessarily my driving style that I’m doing, but if I have that kind of moments, sharp turn-in or rotation or the front slide, I tend to force the car how I want to drive. I normally respect how the car wants to drive through the corner, or I’m able to use that kind of natural behavior from the car. But I wasn’t able to use that ability much in the Red Bull.”

    From Suzoka Optimism to Season-Long Ordeal

    As soon as he first drove the RB21 in free practice at Suzuka, Tsunoda’s early optimism gave way to caution; he reported the car was “feeling a bit more tricky” than on the simulator. With hindsight, it was a sign of the ordeal to come. “Even though I said, yeah, I thought I had confidence, probably it was not enough, as much as the VCARB car that I drove for four years,” Tsunoda said. “Red Bull is still a car that was completely different, which I felt as soon as I stepped into that car in Suzuka. There’s some confidence level I was able to build up, but to maximise that whole performance, I think that was probably something I was missing, and trying to find that confidence throughout the year.”

    The End of the Road: Relief Amid Disappointment

    Tsunoda eventually found out in Qatar, at the penultimate round of the season, that he would not be retained as a race driver and would act as a reserve in 2026—no huge surprise given his results, and the campaign had been so draining that the news actually was a relief to him. “I still remember the moments,” he recounted. “Initially, what I got told was from Helmut [Marko, then Red Bull’s motorsport advisor]. In the end, Helmut is the person that brought me into Formula 1, brought me even to the Red Bull junior programme. We were together since when I was 17, 18. I remember he was also pretty disappointed about that. And when I got told, I still remember, I didn’t feel that much of huge disappointment or devastated feeling. Obviously I was still disappointed and pretty sad that I’m not driving next year. But not as I expected because I don’t know why, somehow in a way, I fought really hard. I fought more than ever in that 2025 year. And even if I look back now, I don’t have much regret. I gave everything. In a way, honestly, my heart was just saying, ‘Okay, now I can be relaxed’. Because it was so stressful, the second half of the 2025 season, where I fought hard with a lot of pressure. Like I was never able to kind of breathe out much.”

    Why This Matters

    Tsunoda’s 2025 season serves as a stark case study in the difficulty of adapting to a Red Bull Racing car tailored around Max Verstappen’s singular driving style and set-up preferences. The RB21’s “eye-wateringly sharp” front-end sensitivity—described previously by Alex Albon as akin to maximizing mouse sensitivity in a video game—created a vehicle that rewarded a specific, highly reactive driving approach. Tsunoda’s admission that he “forced the car how I want to drive” rather than respecting its natural rotation highlights a fundamental philosophical clash: the car demanded a driver who could anticipate and utilize its nervous behaviour, while Tsunoda’s instinct was to impose his own rhythm. The experiment of copying Verstappen’s set-ups despite suffering opposite balance issues (oversteer vs. understeer) underscores the trap teammates fall into when chasing the benchmark’s data rather than their own confidence. With Tsunoda moving to a reserve role for 2026 and Liam Lawson returning to Racing Bulls, Red Bull’s driver development pipeline faces scrutiny over its ability to cultivate a viable second seat alongside a generational talent whose car demands remain uniquely extreme.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why did Yuki Tsunoda struggle so much relative to Max Verstappen in the 2025 Red Bull RB21?
    Tsunoda could not adapt to the RB21’s specific handling characteristics, describing the car as elusive even after the season ended. He admitted his “biggest mistake” was replicating Verstappen’s set-ups despite those set-ups often worsening the balance issues (oversteer or understeer) he was experiencing, and he acknowledged he “forced the car” rather than utilizing its natural rotation through corners as Verstappen could.
    How did Tsunoda’s 2025 statistics compare to Verstappen’s during their time as teammates?
    Over their stint together, Verstappen won eight grands prix and scored 385 points, while Tsunoda scored 30 points with a best finish of sixth in Baku. In 27 qualifying sessions (including sprints), Tsunoda reached Q3 eight times, exited in Q2 nine times, and was eliminated in Q1 on 10 occasions. He outqualified Verstappen once and trailed by 0.6 seconds on average.
    What was Tsunoda’s reaction to being dropped for the 2026 season?
    Tsunoda revealed the news—delivered by Helmut Marko at the Qatar Grand Prix—brought a sense of relief rather than devastation. He stated he “fought more than ever in that 2025 year” with no regrets, but acknowledged the second half of the season was “so stressful” and that his heart felt “okay, now I can be relaxed” upon learning he would move to a reserve role.
  • Red Bull Still Trying to Fix RB22 Issue

    Red Bull Still Trying to Fix RB22 Issue

    While McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes have all unlocked significant performance gains through their recent upgrade packages, Red Bull Racing continues to grapple with a fundamental issue affecting the RB22.

    Verstappen Highlights Aerodynamic Degradation

    The core of the problem relates to feedback from Max Verstappen, who has pointed out that the car suffers from an aerodynamic degradation of performance after a certain number of laps. This characteristic has prevented the team from maximizing its race pace relative to its improving rivals.

    Mekies Admits Complex Fix Required

    Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed during the Madrid round that resolving this balance issue will not be a straightforward process. However, the technical update submissions Red Bull has lodged with the FIA at both Monza and Madrid offer a clear indication of the specific development directions the team is pursuing to rectify the deficit.

  • “I’m not enjoying life” – How Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull F1 stint “exhausted” him

    “I’m not enjoying life” – How Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull F1 stint “exhausted” him

    Key Highlights

    • Yuki Tsunoda described his 2025 Red Bull Racing season as the “toughest year” of his career, revealing severe mental exhaustion and a loss of enjoyment in Formula 1 while struggling to match Max Verstappen’s performance.
    • Tsunoda lost his race seat after the summer break when Isack Hadjar was promoted and Arvid Lindblad debuted, but returned to Racing Bulls for the final three grands prix following Hadjar’s wrist injury and Liam Lawson’s temporary Red Bull call-up.
    • The Japanese driver stated he emerged from the ordeal mentally stronger, declaring he now feels “very comfortable” under pressure and believes nothing in his future career will match the difficulty of his 2025 experience.

    Tsunoda’s Brutal Red Bull Audition: A Midseason Promotion With No Preparation

    Yuki Tsunoda’s 2025 Formula 1 campaign stands as a case study in the unforgiving nature of Red Bull Racing’s second seat. Promoted from Racing Bulls midseason to partner four-time world champion Max Verstappen, Tsunoda stepped into the RB21 without a single prior lap in the machinery—a disadvantage compounded by the team’s condensed development cycle. While Sergio Perez endured four seasons in the role and Liam Lawson lasted merely two grands prix, Tsunoda received a nearly full campaign to prove his worth. He finished 17th in the drivers’ championship, while Verstappen narrowly missed a fifth consecutive title by two points, underscoring the performance gap that has defined the Milton Keynes squad’s driver lineup dynamics for years.

    Mental Toll: Exhaustion, Isolation, and a Loss of Passion

    Speaking candidly on the Beyond The Grid podcast, Tsunoda laid bare the psychological erosion that accompanied his on-track struggles. The 26-year-old described a progressive breakdown of his usual coping mechanisms, where familiar reset rituals—good food, downtime at home—ceased to restore his energy as the season wore on.

    “Definitely, 2025 was the toughest year in my career, and I learned heaps of things,” Tsunoda said. “I’m the kind of person, as soon as I had good food or whatever, I was able to reset myself between the race weeks. But I started to really struggle, towards the second half of the season especially; somehow when I came back to my house, I felt very exhausted.”

    The exhaustion deepened into existential doubt. Tsunoda recounted a growing inability to recharge, a relentless schedule that offered no respite, and a creeping realization that the joy driving his career had evaporated.

    “Normally I’m able to reset myself, get back this energy after I had something that I really like, if I do something that I really like. But I didn’t feel that energy, [it] never came back, and the races just kept going and going, going, going. I had so much up and down, and at some point I just recognised myself that I’m not really enjoying my life, I would say, like I’m not really enjoying the situation, not really enjoying driving Formula 1 probably as much as I was doing the first three years.”

    Confronting the Root Cause: Distance from Home and Professional Support

    Tsunoda traced the crisis to a factor he had overlooked since his formative European racing years: geographic and emotional separation from his support network in Japan.

    “So, it was a very tough time, and outside of racing, try to solve this issue, right? What can I do to help that? And if I look back, is there something else other than eating food or this stuff? What makes me happy? And normally it’s friends, but mostly friends in Japan and… Okay, I really recognised, actually I’m away from Japan. That I really never thought about since probably my first year in F3.”

    He sought professional intervention—psychological support, trainer guidance—but the punishing second-half calendar limited the space needed for recovery. “Okay, this is tough, something that I have to resolve myself. I got help quite a lot with psychology, trainer and a lot of things, but the race [schedule] was pretty busy in the second half, so it was a pretty tough time. But at the same time, the year gave me the opportunity to look myself through a lot more than any other years.”

    Demotion, Reserve Role, and an Unexpected Return

    The organizational fallout was swift. Ahead of the 2026 season, Red Bull promoted Isack Hadjar to the senior team and handed Arvid Lindblad his Formula 1 debut at Racing Bulls, relegating Tsunoda to a reserve driver role across both squads. Fortune intervened during the summer break when Hadjar sustained a wrist injury, prompting Lawson’s temporary elevation to Red Bull and creating a vacancy at Racing Bulls. Tsunoda seized the opportunity, contesting the final three grands prix starting at Zandvoort.

    The reprieve revealed a transformed competitor. Tsunoda reported a newfound comfort under pressure, crediting the 2025 crucible for recalibrating his mental framework.

    “Not sure I’m gonna have that much pressure and struggle, difficult times, as much as I had in 2025,” he added. “So everything comes so far with big challenges. Somehow I’m able to enjoy that kind of pressure moments and I feel very comfortable. Jumping into the car that I’ve never driven, spring qualifying format, VCARB team’s doing really well, running P5 in the teams’ championship – you can’t really mess up for the race, you want to have points. Somehow I was like, I really feel okay, I didn’t feel that much pressure.”

    Asked whether any future challenge could match 2025’s intensity, his answer was definitive: “I don’t think so.”

    Why This Matters

    Tsunoda’s experience illuminates the human cost of Red Bull’s high-stakes driver development model, where the second seat has become a revolving door of talent unable to withstand the Verstappen benchmark. The team’s 2026 lineup shuffle—elevating Hadjar and Lindblad while retaining Tsunoda in a reserve capacity—signals a continued willingness to cycle through candidates rather than stabilize the pairing. For Tsunoda, the season represents a pivotal career inflection: a driver who confronted the limits of his resilience, sought structured psychological support, and emerged claiming a durable mental upgrade. His return to Racing Bulls for the season’s closing rounds, where he operated without the paralyzing pressure that defined his Red Bull stint, offers a tangible measure of that growth. The broader paddock will watch closely whether this psychological recalibration translates into sustained on-track performance in 2026, particularly if Tsunoda secures a full-time drive again.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Why did Yuki Tsunoda struggle so severely during his 2025 Red Bull Racing stint?
    Tsunoda was promoted midseason without any prior experience driving the RB21, placing him at an immediate technical disadvantage against four-time champion Max Verstappen. The performance gap, combined with a relentless race schedule and isolation from his Japan-based support network, triggered profound mental exhaustion and a loss of enjoyment in racing.
    How did Tsunoda return to a race seat after being demoted to reserve driver?
    Isack Hadjar, who had been promoted to Red Bull Racing for 2026, suffered a wrist injury during the summer break. Liam Lawson filled in for Hadjar at Red Bull, vacating his Racing Bulls seat and allowing Tsunoda to compete in the final three grands prix starting at Zandvoort.
    Does Tsunoda believe he is mentally stronger after the 2025 season?
    Yes. Tsunoda explicitly stated that he now feels “very comfortable” under pressure, enjoys high-pressure moments, and does not expect any future career challenge to match the difficulty of his 2025 experience. He credited psychological support and self-reflection during the season for the transformation.
  • Red Bull Insists “there is nothing wrong” With Isack Hadjar’s Recovery

    Red Bull Insists “there is nothing wrong” With Isack Hadjar’s Recovery

    Key Highlights

    • Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies confirms Isack Hadjar’s wrist injury recovery is progressing normally, with a decision on his Baku return expected by Wednesday or Thursday.
    • Liam Lawson will continue preparing for both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls roles until Hadjar’s fitness is confirmed, having scored 14 points in three grands prix.
    • Hadjar consulted seven-time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, whose own rushed return from a broken humerus in 2020 cost him an entire season, reinforcing the team’s cautious approach.

    Red Bull Prioritizes Long-Term Health Over Quick Return for Hadjar

    Red Bull Racing team principal Laurent Mekies delivered a measured update on Isack Hadjar’s injury situation following the Spanish Grand Prix, confirming the French rookie’s recovery from a wrist injury sustained during the summer break is proceeding according to plan. Hadjar has missed the last three Formula 1 rounds, with Liam Lawson stepping into the Red Bull Racing seat while Yuki Tsunoda covered reserve duties at Racing Bulls. Speaking after Sunday’s race in Madrid, Mekies emphasized that the team has no intention of rushing the sophomore driver back before he reaches full fitness.

    Marquez Consultation Reinforces Cautious Strategy

    A pivotal factor in shaping Red Bull’s conservative timeline was Hadjar’s interaction with seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez. The Spanish motorcycle racing icon famously fractured his humerus in the 2020 Jerez season opener, attempted to compete in the following race, and subsequently missed the remainder of the campaign due to complications. That cautionary tale resonated with the 20-year-old Frenchman, convincing him that patience serves his long-term interests better than an accelerated return. Mekies confirmed the team has “learned that it’s fundamentally a normal time for the sort of injuries he has,” validating their existing medical approach.

    Simulator Test Will Determine Baku Availability

    Mekies outlined a clear decision-making framework for the upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix. With “a bit more than a full week” before the Baku weekend, Hadjar will undergo evaluation before being placed on the simulator to experience “real-life constraints.” The team principal established a binary threshold: “If he feels close to 100%, we go for it; if he feels the recovery is not completed, we will stick on our approach to put his recovery first.” Mekies explicitly ruled out compromising Hadjar’s “long-term capacity to come back to 100%” for a premature race appearance, underscoring the organization’s investment in the driver’s development trajectory.

    Lawson Navigates Dual Preparation Challenge

    New Zealander Balances Two Team Workloads

    While Hadjar focuses on rehabilitation, Liam Lawson faces a demanding logistical challenge. The New Zealander must maintain race readiness for both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls until a final decision on Hadjar’s status emerges. “It’s a lot of time at the factory and doing a lot of extra preparations,” Lawson admitted, adding that “this week off won’t be much of a week off.” The 22-year-old has impressed in his three substitute appearances, accumulating 14 championship points and climbing to ninth in the drivers’ standings—just 12 points adrift of Hadjar despite the Frenchman’s five-race head start.

    Mental Preparation Complicated by Uncertainty

    Lawson candidly described the psychological toll of preparing for two fundamentally different cars with no guarantee of which he will drive in Baku. “Coming to the end of the [Madrid] weekend now, I feel quite comfortable in this car. But just going forward, it’s the unknown all the way up to the race weekends,” he explained. The Red Bull driver estimated clarity might not arrive until “Wednesday or Thursday for Baku,” making it “quite tricky to mentally prepare for what car I’m going to drive.” Lawson noted the machinery differences are substantial: “Going back now will be quite tough. It’s completely different to drive.”

    Why This Matters

    The Hadjar-Lawson situation highlights Red Bull’s evolving driver management philosophy under new leadership. With Mekies and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley steering the program following Christian Horner’s reduced operational role, the team is demonstrating a willingness to protect young assets rather than exploit short-term performance gaps. Hadjar’s consultation with Marquez—facilitated by Red Bull’s cross-discipline motorsport network—shows an innovative approach to athlete welfare that transcends series boundaries. For Lawson, the extended audition strengthens his case for a full-time 2026 seat, whether at Red Bull Racing, Racing Bulls, or elsewhere. The Baku decision will also test Red Bull’s simulator correlation capabilities, as Hadjar’s virtual running will serve as the primary fitness benchmark in the absence of on-track running. Championship-wise, Lawson’s 14-point haul has injected unexpected competitiveness into the midfield battle, with the New Zealander now within striking distance of established runners including Nico Hulkenberg and Fernando Alonso.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will Red Bull decide if Isack Hadjar races in Baku?

    According to team principal Laurent Mekies, the decision will likely come “probably all the way up to Wednesday or Thursday for Baku,” following a simulator evaluation after more than a week of recovery assessment.

    How has Liam Lawson performed in his three races replacing Hadjar?

    Lawson has scored 14 points across the three grands prix, placing him ninth in the drivers’ championship standings—just 12 points behind Hadjar despite missing the season’s first five rounds.

    Why did Isack Hadjar consult Marc Marquez about his injury?

    Hadjar sought advice from the seven-time MotoGP champion because Marquez famously rushed back from a broken humerus in 2020, aggravated the injury, and missed the rest of that season—a cautionary example that reinforced Red Bull’s patient approach to the Frenchman’s wrist recovery.

  • Max Verstappen “Max vs 100” Entry List Revealed: Who Is Racing?

    Max Verstappen “Max vs 100” Entry List Revealed: Who Is Racing?

    Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is set to face a field of 100 challengers in a unique karting spectacle streaming live on Disney+ this Wednesday, 16 September. The “Max vs 100” event will take place on a purpose-built circuit at Silverstone, where the Red Bull Racing driver must fight his way through the pack over 30 laps while his opponents work collectively to keep him behind them.

    Verstappen: “I’ll just rock up and have a good time”

    Speaking during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen adopted a relaxed attitude toward the unusual challenge.

    “I’ll just rock up and have a good time, to be honest. Let’s see how it goes. But yeah, it’s a lot of people,” he said.

    “Starting from the back, it’s going to be challenging, but I hope I can catch them all. But we don’t know yet. I don’t even know the format at the moment. So I will just rock up and do my thing.”

    Star-studded entry list spans sport, streaming, and entertainment

    The opposition features an eclectic mix of professional athletes, content creators, streamers, television personalities, and motorsport figures. Below is the confirmed entry list categorized by primary background.

    Professional athletes and sports stars

    • Leticia Bufoni – Professional skateboarder
    • Sarah Lezito (Sarah Vignot) – Stunt rider
    • Arda Saatçi – Ultra athlete
    • Lethal Shooter (Chris Matthews) – NBA shooting coach
    • Janja Garnbret – Professional climber
    • Leo Neugebauer – Decathlon world champion
    • Molly Carlson – Professional cliff diver
    • Matt Jones – Mountain bike athlete
    • Billy Bolt – Motorcycle racer
    • Aidan Heslop – Cliff diver
    • Pol Tarrés – Enduro rider
    • Si Hyun Park – Professional drift driver
    • Drift Games (David Egan) – Creator and drift driver
    • Mélanie Buffetaud – Content creator and parkour athlete
    • Charles Poujade – Parkour athlete and content creator

    Motorsport media and creators

    • Queen B (Rebecca Evans) – Motorsport creator and presenter
    • Gabs Djay – Motorsport content creator
    • Bea Eguiraun – Motorsport presenter and test rider
    • Tommo McCluskey – Motorsport content creator and presenter
    • Larry Chen – Automotive photographer
    • MrCarSounds (Greg Gevojanyan) – Content creator
    • Supercar Blondie (Niklaus Manuel Hirschi) – Automotive media CEO
    • GoKartGod – Electric kart manufacturer
    • Nate Saunders – F1 reporter

    Streamers and gaming personalities

    • TheGrefg – Streamer and content creator
    • Caedrel (Marc Lamont) – Streamer
    • TheDonato (Donato José Muñoz Calabres) – Streamer and content creator
    • Helydia (Celia Tansel) – Streamer and content creator
    • Diogo ‘MoveMind’ da Silva – Streamer and content creator
    • Jonathan Amaral – Professional Esports player
    • RDJavi (Steven Javier Santos del Rosario) – Streamer
    • TechnoGamerz (Ujjwal Chaurasia) – Gaming content creator
    • Amar (Amar Al-Naimi) – Streamer and entertainer
    • Nugato (Ilija Ravlić) – Streamer
    • iiTzTimmy (Timothy An) – Streamer and professional gamer
    • Qucee (Quentin Correia) – Streamer and YouTuber
    • ExtraEmily (Emily Xuechun Zhang) – Streamer
    • Shreeman Legend (Siddhant Praveen Joshi) – Streamer and YouTuber
    • Tyrique Hyde – Streamer

    YouTubers and content creators

    • Zac Alsop – YouTuber
    • Pieface23 (Jack McDermott) – Content creator
    • TGFBro (Romell Henry) – YouTube content creator
    • Manny (Emmanuel David Brown) – YouTuber
    • Dantic (Daniel Moss) – Content creator and YouTuber
    • Developer Adam (Adam Powell) – Content creator
    • Kalia Lai – Content creator and athlete
    • James Doyle – Content creator
    • AustrianKiwi (Jonathan Balchin) – Comedian
    • Nathan Lust – Content creator
    • Tettrem (Mateus dos Santos Machado Almeida) – Content creator and streamer
    • Mars (Zhang Jing) – Extreme sports creator
    • Pamkutya (Norbert Osbáth) – Content creator
    • Roberts Vītols – Content creator
    • Paky TWC (Patrick Tremolada) – YouTuber
    • Enis Kirazoğlu – Content creator
    • Karol Zdęba – YouTuber
    • Vale Sulca – Content creator
    • German Rodezel – Content creator
    • Pableke (Pablo Jimenez) – Content creator
    • Josh Richards – Creator and entrepreneur
    • John-Marc van Wyk – Content creator
    • Dyler – Artist and content creator
    • Nnnurdaylet – Content creator
    • Julia Haller – Content creator
    • Wirtual (Øyvind Ludwig Iversen) – Content creator
    • Daniel Ahola – Content creator
    • Joe Tasker – Content creator and television presenter
    • Bella James – Content creator
    • Juank Perez – Content creator
    • Jakidale (Jacopo D’Alesio) – YouTuber and content creator
    • Sporttouchen (Timothé Rangström) – Content creator
    • Taylor Serage – Content creator
    • Jojo Sim – Content creator
    • Henry Robert Williams – Sports journalist
    • Austin Sprinz – Content creator

    Television, media, and entertainment

    • Amber Gill – Television personality
    • Stungpegg (Nieve Petruzziello) – Sports presenter and content creator
    • Bash The Entertainer (Bachala Mbunzama) – Content creator and comedian
    • Fresia Aria – Football reporter
    • Joseph Brophy – Sports journalist
    • Molly Marsh – Influencer and television personality
    • Neo Yau (Yau Hawk Sau) – Actor and content creator
    • Mike Dokas – TikTok creator

    Fitness and lifestyle influencers

    • Shredded Fox (Jan Liška) – YouTuber and fitness influencer

    The Max vs 100 event promises an unprecedented crossover between elite motorsport and digital entertainment culture, with all action broadcast live on Disney+ from Silverstone on 16 September.

  • Liam Lawson assesses Red Bull outings: ‘Overall it’s been a strong three weekends’

    Liam Lawson assesses Red Bull outings: ‘Overall it’s been a strong three weekends’

    Liam Lawson Reflects on Strong Red Bull Return After Spanish Grand Prix Points Finish

    Liam Lawson believes “overall it’s been a strong three weekends” with Red Bull since replacing the injured Isack Hadjar midway through the 2025 Formula 1 season. The New Zealander made his third start for the senior team at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix, securing his best result since swapping his Racing Bulls machinery by finishing sixth.

    Overtaking Challenge Defines Madrid Debut

    Lawson was one of the few drivers to execute an overtake on the Madring street circuit, before a late pit stop secured his second points finish with Red Bull—following a seventh-place result in the Netherlands. Speaking to F1 TV about the challenges of Formula 1’s newest venue, Lawson said:

    “Hard to overtake is really the biggest thing. We started on the hard [tyre] as well and with the Virtual Safety Car, it didn’t really help us,”

    He elaborated on a key moment during the race:

    “Made quite a risky pass on Franco [Colapinto] earlier on and felt like it was going to be really important for our race but then the VSC came out and they boxed anyway, so it didn’t really make a difference.

    Was quite fun to do but this track is very difficult to pull it off [an overtake]. I didn’t nearly make the corner and you do track limits you have to give the place back. Tough race.”

    Contrast with Early Season Struggles

    Lawson’s current performances with Red Bull stand in stark contrast to the start of the 2025 season, where he competed in just two races before being demoted back to Racing Bulls. Prior to his temporary move back to the senior team, Lawson had scored points in eight out of 11 races this season—form that earned him another call-up.

    Although Hadjar was present in the Madrid paddock over the weekend, the Frenchman’s return from a wrist injury sustained over the summer break remains unknown, with Baku the next race in two weeks.

    Lawson Proud of Maximising Opportunities

    When asked if he was proud of his performances with Red Bull so far, Lawson responded:

    “I think so,”

    He expanded on his approach:

    “I’ve just tried to maximise each weekend. Honestly, a lot of things coming into it were just driver specific that I knew were going to be challenging about this car, and just really tried to prepare as much as I could but it’s been a very busy few weeks to be honest.

    Probably this coming week will be busy as well to be honest, I’ll probably be doing prep for both cars again. It’s just been a busy time trying to put everything together, but it’s been good.

    I would have loved to have scored in Monza as well, but I think overall it’s been a strong three weekends.”

  • Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies Explains Why Max Verstappen Was Ordered to Return Positions in Madrid

    Red Bull’s Laurent Mekies Explains Why Max Verstappen Was Ordered to Return Positions in Madrid

    Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has defended the team’s decision to order Max Verstappen to surrender positions during the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, a move that ultimately paved the way for a strong recovery drive to second place at the Madring circuit.

    First-Lap Clash Triggers Team Order

    The incident occurred immediately after lights out in Madrid. Verstappen, starting third, tangled with Lewis Hamilton as the Ferrari driver moved ahead into Turn 1. Verstappen maintained his grid slot only by cutting the corner, prompting an immediate investigation from race control.

    Over team radio, Verstappen protested that Hamilton “almost shunted him” and initially resisted instructions to concede the position. The Dutch driver had since passed Kimi Antonelli for second place, raising the stakes of a potential time penalty.

    Strategic Compliance Avoids Heavier Penalty

    Verstappen eventually complied, allowing both Antonelli and Hamilton to repass. The strategy shifted rapidly when Hamilton suffered a brake failure and retired shortly after. A subsequent Virtual Safety Car period played into Red Bull’s hands during their pit stop cycle, enabling Verstappen to finish runner-up to race winner Antonelli.

    Mekies: “Better to Take the Pain at That Moment”

    Speaking to F1 TV after the Grand Prix, Mekies acknowledged the decision was unpopular in the cockpit but necessary for the broader race outcome.

    “We would have simply been penalized either five seconds or ten seconds at their discretion,” he told F1 TV. “So that’s what would have happened. And of course, if you can imagine race scenarios with a Safety Car or other circumstances, it can cost you a lot more than a position or two.”

    Mekies emphasized that the team anticipated Verstappen’s frustration but backed his ability to recover.

    “Luckily Max gave away the position before Lewis retired and ultimately continued to fight the race from that point,” he continued. “Of course it is frustrating but, in fairness, I think P2 was the absolute best we could have achieved today.”

    Verstappen Accepts “Nature of the Track”

    For his part, Verstappen characterized the opening skirmish as a product of the new Madrid layout. After the enforced position swaps, he focused solely on maximizing his race pace, a mindset that delivered a damage-limitation podium.

    Championship Standings Update

    The result leaves Verstappen sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 145 points. Teammate Liam Lawson scored sixth place on his return to the seat, lifting Red Bull to fourth in the Constructors’ standings ahead of the next round in Baku.

  • “My race could have been over” – Max Verstappen on first‑lap clash with Lewis Hamilton

    “My race could have been over” – Max Verstappen on first‑lap clash with Lewis Hamilton

    Verstappen Secures Second Place at Spanish Grand Prix, Admits Red Bull Lacks Race-Winning Pace

    Max Verstappen extracted the maximum possible result from the inaugural Formula 1 race at the Madring circuit in Madrid, claiming his fifth podium finish in seven race weekends. The Dutch driver finished second behind Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, a result the four-time world champion admitted was better than his car’s performance deserved.

    Verstappen: “We Maximised the Result” Despite Pace Deficit

    Speaking in the post-race press conference, Verstappen was candid about Red Bull’s competitive position relative to the frontrunners.

    “We maximised the result and probably had a bit of luck with, of course, the unlucky situation for Lando [Norris, who missed the opportunity to pit under the VSC]. I didn’t have the pace of Kimi and I definitely did not have the pace of Lando,”

    Verstappen said.

    “So yeah, we’re here on the podium and I think that’s great, but we still lack a little bit to really fight for the win.”

    Early Race Controversy: Giving Back Positions to Hamilton

    The result raises questions about whether Verstappen could have challenged for victory had he not surrendered positions in the opening laps. The Red Bull driver was instructed by race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to return a place to Lewis Hamilton. With Antonelli sandwiched between them, the directive effectively cost Verstappen two positions.

    Verstappen expressed frustration over team radio but acknowledged the strategic necessity of compliance.

    “Yeah, what am I supposed to do? If they tell me that I have to do it, then I will do it,”

    the Dutchman said.

    “If I hadn’t done that, then I would have received a penalty. No chance.”

    Despite complying, Verstappen maintains his maneuver was justified. He explained that Hamilton lost control of his car over the kerbstones, forcing Verstappen off track to avoid a collision.

    “I would have had damage at the start if I would have stayed on track, so then the win was also not on. It’s as simple as that,”

    Verstappen explained.

    “I just did my own thing in Turn 1, but Lewis went for a move on the first two [drivers] and bottomed out on the kerb. He just jumped back onto the track and that’s why I had to go off the road.”

    “If I would have stayed there, I would have definitely had contact. Then my race could potentially have been over in Turn 2, and that’s why I think I’m happy to be where we are now.”

    Red Bull “Slightly Overperforming” Relative to Pure Pace

    Verstappen assessed that second place was the realistic ceiling for his machinery, suggesting that on pure pace, a low podium finish was more representative.

    “We sometimes profit a little bit from some misfortune of others, but we are also trying to really maximise and sometimes, maybe, yes, slightly overperform. And that’s good,”

    he said.

    “That is the only thing that we can do at the moment. Now we rely on making our package, our overall package, a little bit stronger to really be in a potential fight for the win.”

    Closing-Stage Battle “Misleading,” Verstappen Says

    Although Verstappen ran within a second of race leader Antonelli for several laps in the closing stages, he dismissed the appearance of a genuine fight for victory.

    “It might have looked a little bit like we were in a fight for the win, but that was more because Kimi was getting held up by Charles.”

    “As soon as he had clean air, he just drove away from me again and I was busy with Lando behind me. But around here, if you just drive a little bit in the middle, then yeah, you can’t pass.”

    Development Constraints and 2027 Focus

    Red Bull’s ability to close the performance gap is limited by budget cap restrictions. Team principal Laurent Mekies has acknowledged that the financial regulations prevent maintaining the aggressive development rate seen in the first half of the season.

    Verstappen confirmed that while some updates will still be introduced for the 2026 car, the organization’s primary engineering focus has already shifted toward the 2027 regulation cycle.

  • ‘It’s just the nature of the track’ – Max Verstappen explains Lewis Hamilton clash in Spanish Grand Prix

    ‘It’s just the nature of the track’ – Max Verstappen explains Lewis Hamilton clash in Spanish Grand Prix

    Verstappen Details Opening-Lap Clash with Hamilton at Spanish Grand Prix

    Max Verstappen has given his assessment of the near-miss with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, an incident that saw the Dutch driver reluctantly concede the position after running off track.

    Turn 1 Incident Forces Position Swap

    As the lights went out at the Madring circuit, Hamilton surged ahead while Verstappen cut the first corner and maintained his starting slot of third place. The move prompted immediate calls from the British driver for Verstappen to return the place. The Red Bull driver was adamant that Hamilton almost shunted into me and initially resisted team instructions to yield, especially after he had also passed Kimi Antonelli to claim second. He eventually complied, allowing both Antonelli and Hamilton through, but swiftly returned to the top three when Hamilton began to struggle with brake issues.

    Verstappen Explains Defensive Decision

    Addressing the clash, Verstappen pointed to the circuit layout as a contributing factor.

    “It’s just a bit the nature of the track,” Verstappen said when questioned on the clash. “When you have that track layout with so much tarmac, people of course risk [going] for a move, and I saw what happened – Lewis clipped the kerb so he was going to run wide.

    “I think if I would’ve stayed on the track, you touch and there’s a big risk of damage. I decided to drive next to the track, and then of course the team told me to give the position back, which I did. After that, I just tried to do my race.”

    Virtual Safety Car Timing Benefits Red Bull

    Verstappen capitalized on a Virtual Safety Car period to minimize time lost during his pit stop—a strategic advantage that McLaren’s Lando Norris missed due to unfavorable timing. The sequence ultimately elevated Verstappen to second place while Norris finished third.

    Podium Finish Viewed as Strong Result Despite Pace Deficit

    Although the four-time World Champion acknowledged he lacked the outright pace to challenge either Norris or race winner Antonelli, he expressed satisfaction with the weekend overall, securing his sixth podium of the season.

    “Looking at the race pace, I think it’s a great result,” he said. “Of course, we know that Lando got unlucky with that VSC, so for us I think P2 is an incredible result because you could see how much Lando was catching me.”

    He later added further context on the competitive hierarchy during the stint.

    “I think it was quite clear that Lando and Kimi were a lot faster. Once everyone was a little bit clear, it was again the same thing where Kimi was a bit faster than me, Lando was faster than all of us, but I could keep him quite easily behind me.”

  • Max Verstappen Wins Driver of the Day After Second-Place Finish at Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid

    Max Verstappen Wins Driver of the Day After Second-Place Finish at Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid

    Verstappen Recovers to Secure Second Place at Madring After Early Penalty

    Max Verstappen demonstrated his championship mettle at the Madring, climbing from an early setback to claim a hard-fought second place for Red Bull Racing. The Dutch driver finished less than a second behind the winner after a tense battle with polesitter Lando Norris in the closing laps.

    Early Incident Drops Verstappen Down the Order

    The race did not start cleanly for the reigning champion. Verstappen cut the first chicane at the start, an infraction that resulted in a directive from race control to yield positions to rivals Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. The penalty dropped him down the order early, forcing a recovery drive through the field.

    Masterclass in Race Management

    Undeterred by the early drama, Verstappen settled into a rhythm that showcased his signature ability to extract maximum performance from the machinery. He methodically worked his way forward, managing tire degradation and fuel loads to perfection. In the dying laps, he found himself hunting down race leader Lando Norris, applying relentless pressure on the McLaren driver.

    Despite a charging effort, Verstappen fell just short of the victory, crossing the line in P2 by a margin of less than a second. The defensive drive from Norris held firm, but the Red Bull driver’s pace in the second half of the race was a clear statement of intent.

    Fans Vote Verstappen Driver of the Day

    The performance resonated strongly with viewers, who voted Verstappen the standout driver of the Grand Prix. The final voting breakdown was as follows:

    • Max Verstappen – 23.5%
    • Charles Leclerc – 18.3%
    • Lando Norris – 16.2%
    • Kimi Antonelli – 9.7%
    • Franco Colapinto – 7.3%

    The result underscores Verstappen’s enduring popularity and the appreciation for a recovery drive that turned a potential disaster into a strong podium finish.